What to Know
- The Bobcat Fire burned about 4,800 acres of brush in Angeles National Forest north of Azusa.
- The fire is burning in a remote area well away from residential areas. No evacuations were ordered.
- A smoke plume could be seen across the San Gabriel Valley and beyond.
Smoke is spreading across Southern California due to a brush fire that broke out Sunday north of Azusa during an afternoon of triple-digit heat.
The tower of smoke from Angeles National Forest could be seen from the San Gabriel Valley and beyond. Ash was falling on several communities because of the Bobcat Fire.
Angeles National Forest and other national forests in California close Monday at 5 p.m. due to dangerous fire conditions. Other Southern California forests affected by the closure include, San Bernardino National Forest, Los Padres National Forest and Cleveland National Forest.
Angeles National Forest will remain closed to all general activities for a week, until Monday, Sept. 14, according to the Forest Service for the Angeles National Forest.
Details about how the 4,870-acre Bobcat Fire started were not immediately available. The fire was at 1,800 acres Sunday afternoon before expanding overnight.
The fire was reported near 14300 West Fork Road. Highway 39 is closed in the area. Angeles Crest Highway at Mount Wilson and the Angeles Crest
Highway at Upper Big Tujunga in Palmdale were blocked Monday morning.
At least two water-dropping helicopters and two SuperScoopers were deployed. The planes, leased from Canada, can scoop up large amounts of water from lakes and reservoirs, limiting the turnaround time to refill.
Crews are refilling at a nearby reservoir.
No buildings are threatened. The fire is burning in a forest area north of Azusa near the West Fork Picnic area.
No evacuations have been ordered.
Temperatures were at 116 degrees in the area east of Los Angeles.
Dry conditions and triple-digit heat are expected into Monday with little relief in sight for firefighters. Windy conditions are in the forecast for later this week.
CAL FIRE has reported more than 6,000 wildfires that have burned more than 1 million acres in California through August.
On Saturday, firefighters in San Bernardino County responded to the El Dorado Fire, which grew to 3,000 acres Sunday in the Yucaipa area. Containment was at 5 percent.
