What to Know
- The Bobcat Fire has burned about 19,796 acres of brush in Angeles National Forest north of Azusa.
- Most surrounding communities have been told to evacuate or to be prepared to evacuate.
- The Red Cross established a temporary evacuation point Tuesday at
Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Drive
The Bobcat Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest exploded to 19,796 acres Wednesday night and was 0% contained as evacuation warnings were in effect for multiple San Gabriel Valley communities.
"The fire made a big push today, as the offshore winds pushed the fire to the east and crossed Highway 39,'' the U.S. Forest Service said Wednesday evening.
A wind advisory was in effect Wednesday, with gusts of 25 to 35 mph in the mountains and San Gabriel, San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys, but the National Weather Service reported about 10 a.m. Wednesday that the Santa Ana Winds were ``not as strong as predicted and latest trends are down."
Winds were expected to blow about 10-15 mph Wednesday night, with gusts up to 20 mph, then down to 5-15 mph on Thursday, with gusts up to 25 mph, the National Weather Service reported.
A red flag warning for extreme fire danger in the San Gabriel Valley was canceled at about 1:30 p.m., but remained in effect until 8 p.m. for the Los Angeles County mountains and San Fernando Valley.
Fire officials issued evacuation warnings for residents in Duarte, Bradbury, Monrovia, Acadia, Sierra Madre, Pasadena and Altadena, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Arcadia city officials suggested Tuesday night that residents north of Foothill Boulevard and east of Santa Anita Avenue voluntarily evacuate and residents in Sierra Madre north of Grandview Avenue were advised to voluntarily evacuate.
Shortly before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, evacuation warnings were lifted for Arcadia residents north of Foothill Boulevard and east of Santa Anita, and city officials said "the fire has generally progressed away from'' Arcadia.
Evacuations were previously ordered for residents and Angeles National Forest visitors from Big Santa Anita Canyon, Mt. Wilson, San Gabriel Canyon and Monrovia Canyon, but by Wednesday evening no evacuation orders were in effect, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
A smoke advisory was extended to Thursday afternoon, for most of Los Angeles County and parts of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District warned of unhealthy air quality in the San Gabriel Mountains, the east San Gabriel Valley and Pomona-Walnut Valley.
The priority for firefighters Wednesday was to contain the south end of the fire.
The Forest Service estimates that the fire -- which broke out at midday Sunday near the Cogswell Dam and West Fork Day Use area -- will not be contained until Oct. 15.
The Red Cross established a temporary evacuation point Tuesday at Santa Anita Park for anyone affected by the Bobcat Fire.
Shelter for large animals was available at Fairplex in Pomona and Santa Anita Park.
Anyone needing to board their horses at Fairplex should call Fairplex Security at 909-865-4600. Trailers should enter the grounds at Gate 12 at 2201 White Ave., Fairplex director of communications Renee Hernandez said.
Owners will need to provide food, water and bedding for horses and must adhere to social distancing protocols and wear masks. Fairplex has enough stables to board 300 horses and stables are spaced to assist with social distancing, Hernandez said.
The Angeles National Forest, along with all 18 national forests in California, will be closed until further notice, the U.S. Forest Service said in a news release Wednesday.
"The wildfire situation throughout California is dangerous and must be taken seriously,'' Randy Moore, regional forester for the Pacific Southwest Region, said Monday.
"Existing fires are displaying extreme fire behavior, new fire starts are likely, weather conditions are worsening, and we simply do not have enough resources to fully fight and contain every fire."
Structures were being threatened by the fire, according to Angeles National Forest officials.
The Glendale (2) Freeway was closed from 10.6 miles east of La Canada-Flintridge to Islip Saddle. Highway 39 was closed at Canyon Entrance Station.
