Fork Fire Above Glendora Now 30% Contained

GLENDORA (CNS) - A large brush fire in the Angeles National Forest above Glendora is now 30% contained after burning 330 acres, CalFire said Sunday.

The Fork Fire was first reported around 3:30 p.m. Friday in the area of Glendora Mountain and East Fork roads, sending up a large plume of smoke and spreading rapidly near popular camping and hiking areas.

By Saturday morning, the fire was burning toward the Sheep Mountain Wilderness. More than 350 personnel were committed to the firefighting effort including the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, Cal Fire and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

People have been evacuated from the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, but no residents had been evacuated as of Sunday morning.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Saturday that an air rescue unit transported medics to "rescue seven hikers from the trail leading to the Bridge to Nowhere in Angeles Forest due to their proximity to the East Fork Fire."

Highway 39, East Fork Road, Glendora Ridge Road and Glendora Mountain Road remain closed.

"SR-39 (San Gabriel Canyon Rd) is closed in both directions at the San Gabriel Canyon Gateway Center near Ranch Rd in Azusa until Thursday 7/25 due to the Fork Fire. Emergency vehicles & residents with ID only," Caltrans posted Saturday.

At the onset of the fire, crews on the scene requested medical teams to treat a young child with possible burn injuries and smoke inhalation. However, they later reported no patients at the scene. No further details were available. Crews also requested air support to search for a group of juveniles who were seen in the area ahead of the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.