WRLTHD: Fire forces more than 12,000 to evacuate; burns 3,600 acres in Angeles National forest

By Brian Day and Joe Smilor, Staff Writers

Brush fire in the San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles National Forest above Glendora on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012.

Angeles National Forest north of Glendora forced the evacuation of more than 12,000 people and burned more than 3,600 acres, authorities said Sunday.

Most of those evacuated where visiting the area for the the Labor Day weekend, where recreational activities abound.

Highway 39 in the Angeles National Forest was closed Sunday and will remain shut through today.

Fire officials said Sunday evening that a shift in the fire's direction lessened danger to homes and residents in the San Gabriel Valley foothills.

With the shift from its original northeast direction to the north, officials said they had no immediate fears that the fire would threaten any foothill communities, such as Azusa, San Dimas and Glendora.

Smoke could been seen for miles in the San Gabriel Valley, Inland Empire and High Desert, where people reported falling ash.

Two firefighters suffered minor injures and there was no reports of damaged structures, officials said.

The fire comes 11 years and a day after the Sept. 1, 2001, Curve Fire which burned in the same area, officials said. The fire burned more than 25,000 acres and burned more than 140 structures.

Three weeks later, another wild fire broke out in the same area and scorched more

The Williams Fire sends a plume of smoke as it rips through the San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles National Forest. (Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer)
than 35,000 acres before it merged with the still burning Curve Fire.

Sunday's blaze, which possibly began as a car fire, began sending smoke into the sky shortly after 2:15 p.m. from East Fork Road in Azusa Canyon.

The Camp Williams Resort and River Community rehabilitation center were evacuated as a precaution, said Kirk Smith of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department.

About 300 U.S. Forest Service and Los Angeles County firefighters, with the help of eight water-dropping air craft, fought the fire Sunday, Nathan Judy of the U.S. National Forest Service said.

"The area up here is really steep, rugged terrain," he added.

Shaun Rollan of the Angeles National Forest said there is no containment in sight and the blaze was moving toward Sheep Wilderness Area. The terrain there is called "extremely dangerous."

"The heat is not helping," he said.

Lori Felts, 50, of Covina, heard about the fire and drove to the area to see what was going on.

"They are great heroes," Felts said of the firefighters battling the blaze.

"How they responded is beautiful," she said.

For more information on the fire call 626-574-5208 or visit inciweb.org
Staff Writer Peter Fullam contributed to this story.