Southern California wildfire grows
After causing thousands of visitors to evacuate the Angeles National Forest, a wildfire in southern California has expanded to include hundreds more acres. The fire's cause is under investigation.
This Sunday photo shows the growing fire in the Angeles National Forest in Southern California. The wildfire has cut short the Labor Day holiday weekend for thousands of visitors who flock to the popular recreational attraction.
AP Photo/Courtesy of Mitchell Edwards
GLENDORA, Calif.
A wildfire in the Angeles National Forest that forced the evacuation of thousands of visitors has grown another 500 acres and additional firefighting resources have been requested.
The fire, which broke out near a campground Sunday afternoon, grew overnight to about 4,100 acres, or roughly 6 square miles, said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Angie Lavell.
With containment remaining at five percent, officials set up an incident management team early Monday morning to map out a long-term strategy to battle the blaze, Lavell said.
The flames continue to burn deeper into a wilderness area away from any structures, she said.
Campgrounds that typically attract up to 12,000 visitors on the holiday weekend, as well as rehabilitation centers and the private community of Camp Williams Resort, were evacuated on Sunday.
The Red Cross has set up an evacuation center at Glendora High School.
The forest is heavily used by Southern California residents because it is close to populated areas.
Officials said campgrounds, while not in the line of the fire, had to be emptied so that the only road in and out of the San Gabriel Canyon could be open just for fire trucks and emergency vehicles.
About 300 firefighters were aided by four water-dropping helicopters and nine air tankers. Fire officials also activated the use of a DC-10 capable of dropping thousands of gallons of retardant.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
A 2009 fire, which killed two firefighters, destroyed 89 homes and blackened 250 square miles of forest. It was the largest in Los Angeles County history.
In Northern California, firefighters expected to spend Monday focusing on the rugged and remote northern edge of a weekslong fire in Mendocino County. Full containment is expected by Sept. 10.
More than 1,600 firefighters continue to battle the blaze, which has scorched more than 65 square miles and remained at 58 percent contained.