Fork Fire above Glendora 70% contained

Firefighters were bracing for another day of excessive heat Wednesday as they continue to make progress on a brush fire in the Angeles National Forest above Glendora.

The Fork Fire was 70% contained Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire, which revised the fire's acreage from 330 to 301 acres.

The fire is burning in steep terrain in a northeasterly direction. Wednesday's forecast called for a high of 97 degrees in Glendora.

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The state agency was fighting the fire with assistance from the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department, California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The 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. People have been evacuated from the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, but no residents have been evacuated.

The San Gabriel Canyon and East Fork were closed to all forest visitors. Highway 39, East Fork Road, Glendora Ridge Road and Glendora Mountain Road wee also closed.

On Wednesday, the Angeles National Forest announced that Highway 39 was open up to Crystal Lake Campground.

As of Wednesday, 120 people were committed to the firefighting effort. Authorities reported two firefighter injuries earlier in the week, but no further information about those injuries was provided.

The 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."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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