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Gene Blevins / Reuters
An air tanker flies through thick smoke rising from the hills above San Gabriel mountains as a brush fire rages in the Angeles National Forest on Sunday.
A Southern California brushfire that was only five percent contained grew to 3,600 acres late Sunday, authorities said, forcing thousands of weekend campers to cut short their visits to the popular Angeles National Forest.
The blaze, which broke out near a campground Sunday afternoon, sent a huge cloud of smoke that could be seen from the coast to the desert inland, according to The Associated Press.
Forest spokeswoman L'Tanga Watson told the AP that campgrounds that typically attract up to 12,000 visitors on the three-day holiday weekend, as well as rehabilitation centers and the private community of Camp Williams Resort, above the city of Glendora, were evacuated.
The fire has been labeled the "Williams fire" after the resort, which is located in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Heavily-used recreation area
The 640,000-acre Angeles National Forest is located near populated areas and consequently is heavily used, especially on holiday weekends.
Local reports said that law enforcement during holiday weekends has long been a challenge in the Angeles National Forest.
In addition to overnight campers, the forest attracts hikers and prospectors panning for gold in the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, despite prohibitions on such mining.
Visitors are frequently cited by forest rangers for building illegal bonfires, local reports said.
Officials said that no structures were threatened, according to Inciweb, a wildfire reporting site. Based on the direction the blaze is heading, no structures were expected to be under threat, the site said.
According to the Los Angeles Times, around 300 firefighters have been sent to combat the blaze. Air tankers and helicopters were also being used to drop water and fire retardant on the blaze, the newspaper said.
Full US News coverage on NBCNews.com
By late Sunday, the fire was pushing north on steep terrain toward the Sheep Mountain Wilderness, the Times reported.
Fleeing the flames
Maritza Martinez told NBC Los Angeles that she fled the area when she noticed smoke.
"When we came up, we noticed a whole bunch of smoke and we started to notice something is burning and little by little the smoke started to grow," according NBCLosAngeles.com.
"My little sister was like, 'Let's go! Let's go!,'" she said.
More on this story from NBC Los Angeles
For Catharine Vega, the blaze meant her holiday weekend trip was cut short.
"I've never seen a real fire except on TV," she told NBC Los Angeles. "We stopped to see, and we saw actual flames and it was scary because we didn't know what to do."
She added: "You come here to enjoy and we were having fun."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
Sad.....was great camping and hiking area, hope all the little animals were able to clear out in time.
The little ones, probably not, but the big ones should be okay. Fires happen fairly often around there. The manzanita goes up like a torch, but it all comes back eventually.
This whole park is a tinderbox. Why do they allow people to smoke cigarettes and light campfires there? THis fire began at a campground. It is not forested at all. it is mostly desert shrubs. It should be open to hiking only and kept as a preserve for the mountain lions. L.A. people partying on labor day don't give a crap about burn bans.
Another factor that does not help is all of the housing developments pushing into the mountains.
Steve, have you reported to the F.D. yet that you know a smoker started the fire? Of course you haven't, because you have no idea as to the cause and you're just guessing. Let me make a guess here....you're a non-smoker who enjoys hiking but not camping....and you voted for Gov. Moonbeam!
Every year wackos set fires all over the L.A. area. Soon the whole place will be uninhabitable.
It is rare when a wild animal doesnt get out ... except for skunks and opossum which are trash rabid pests anyway ...
That said, the entire LA Basin is full of brush. You cant drive through most hillside neighborhoods without seeing backyards full of out of control weeds that our Fire Dept refuses to cite. (things are greener this year due to unusual August humidity, however that rapidly changes in September) Every area in the areas that usually have fires every 2-5 years is overgrown and full of weeds and brush. Residents in LA refuse to keep their homes clear. If they have a hill in the backyard its full of weeds and overgrown trash trees. Palm Trees are full of old dead Palm Frongs, that when on fire become flying fire bombs. Pine Trees are huge and the idiots never thin the trees out and, leaving pine needles on the ground and on roofs to BURN baby BURN ... (and when the tree is 50 plus feet tall in a densely packed hillside neighborhood your stupid tree endangers the whole neighborhood) (Trees are great in the flatland and in forests (where if they burn they dont endanger homes) but in a hillside area ... keep the palms CLEAN and the rule of 2-3 story pine (pines in So Cal neighborhoods look stupid) and leafy trees in hillside areas save homes, property (plus 1 pine a home, 2 leafy, non fruit bearing trees at most), taxpayer costs and firefighter lives but Californians love their weeds (and claim privacy as why they have out of control growth on their property (buy in the flats dummy if you want privacy ... the hills are to see and to be seen) Its not Jerry Browns fault, its the fault of LAZY homeowners in very expensive neighborhoods (many claiming privacy ... wear a swimsuit, or dont and let it all hang out ... unless youre a Kardashian no one will even look) And as for race ... the worst in my area are white, blacks, and middle easterns topping the offenders and just behind hispanics and then asians Its not a race or even money issue ... its a lazy pig issue. Cut down a tree, lower your taxes and save a Firefighter!
screw the animals I hope the people make it out.
Ooooh, a real holocaust!
still more fires and we are into sept - everything is changing - and not in a good way - fires ,drought, extreme heat, storms, no ice at the polar caps - man imagine if this was not a hoax but real
Almost a repeat of the warm time period from 925AD to 1250AD, followed of course by the little ice age.
Dennis,
Get a clue! Wait, maybe you are old enough to remember that last event?
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Dennis:
I'm sure they weren't driving cars, using electricity from coal-fired power plants, or heating our homes with oil or natural gas; thereby, releasing carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere back in 925AD. Deforestation is another significant source of greenhouse gases, because fewer trees means less carbon dioxide conversion to oxygen.
As SingBiker stated so eloquently, "Get a clue".
deniers are already throwing their nonsense out.
remember:
deniers love greed, deniers hate science, education, logic and reason
The problem with all you people is that you use logic to talk to the deniers.
Answer me this: if they were susceptible to logic, would they be deniers in the first place?
First, Fred get a clue, September always has been fire season in So. Ca. As to the rest of you True Believers of man made global warming, or climate change (your choice), it certainly looks like you're the deniers....of history. You know about history don't you? History is based on documented facts, not unprovable theory. You've spent too much time listening to people like Fat Albert. (Gore)
Fire season in Southern California runs through November, sometimes even December. That's not a comment on climate change, just a statement of fact from a lifelong resident of this area.
OldDog47:
Whether you agree or disagree with someone else's views, name calling says far more about you then you could ever speak about yourself.
Yes. Calling ex-Vice-President Gore "Fat" in a derogatory manner gives us an excellent idea of the strength of your scientific credentials.
The "global warmers" will go away once winter hits. Thats when the "climate changers" come out to play!
So nice to see all you liberals out today to pat each other on the back and make each other feel good because you believe in the same things. A fire takes place and OMG! global warming strikes again!
Brad: Your world must be very narrow if that's what you've derived from these discussions.
Gather up all the illegals in Mexifornia and let them fight the fire. They swear that's mexico so let them stop their house from burning down.
The Great Sanctuary State of California, no
longer Golden …but just a Dirty Brown
You got that right they are the only ones
that use that forest anyways, dirty diapers and trash every ware, wallowing in
the streams, thousands of them every ware, filthiest people I have ever seen in
my life, just pigs that use up the resources and then Sh!t on them on the way
out! Haven’t been up in those mountains in years, it can burn to the ground for
all I care!
But first allow me to tie you to your stake, once the evil is destroyed we will have peace on earth Dame808.
hey dame, your house can burn to the ground for all I care.
and I don't even live in CA anymore
you might try learning English too.
Dame808 may have said it a bit harsh - but it's correct! Basically it's the Hispanics that use this area. Drive up on a holiday weekend or most summer weekends - that's all you'll see. Then go visit after a holiday weekend - you will see trash, dirty diapers and filth. They truly do not give a crap. But hell, go drive through their neighborhoods - they look the same!
Most people would never want to go up there anymore - they've runined it. What else is new?!
Madcitizen, I can see that hate coming out of you, peace brother, life is real short, at the end we all be judge the same, white,brown black, etc,etc, i will pray for you.
Wonder if that might have something to do with the fact that California has a large Hispanic population.
Byron, large? Really? How about overwhelming? A far better description if you look around! I live in a mostly Latino neighborhood. The vast majority of my neighbors are here legally, and many of them are U.S. citizens. But understand tha people Dame is talking about do exist, and they do a good job of screwing things up for the rest!
And I'll bet that Dame is unable to tell the difference between a "good Hispanic" and a "bad Hispanic." Just like it's very difficult to tell the difference between a "good non-Hispanic" and a "bad non-Hispanic."
I happen to live right where this fire is. ANYONE who thinks that the local folks don't play in these mountains on a daily basis is plain wrong! Yes on a holiday weekend it gets overrun with people (of all types). But if you think it's not a treasure to live here then you don't know who we are.
Just remember, if you have a fire or flood at your house, I will be hoping for YOUR SAFETY. Instead of posting vitriolic comments!
Madcitizen, I am grateful that your point of view is represented by folks who are incapable of expressing a coherent, let alone persuasive, thought.
Back at you
and here comes tonyinwyo as a shining example of exactly the type that chuck spoke of
GOOD!
Maybe they will all run back south of the border where they belong!
TonyinWyo, Like in Wyoming ? You probably hate all californians in general, rigth? or everybody ? Get some help, is out there and is free, Bless you.
Yeah, I'd really want to go camping with 12,000 other people. Sarcasm intended.
SOMEBODY IS Setting ALL THESE fires in the United States. Could it be we have an unseen enemy, that trying to bring down the wealth of this country?
Everytime I look around there is a fire. I hear of more fires than I've ever heard of.
I don't believe it all because of the weather. Somebody is trying to bring on more pain to America.
It's not the drought, or anything what they say it is. There is something to all these fires.
Our country have never had these many fires Back to Back. Somebody knows something about these fires. and an't talking.
Interesting, I think I saw on a history special about WW II that the Japanese tried something like that by sending in balloons loaded with incendiary devices with some success.
It's the Vietnamese. Pigs.
It's human beings, you idiots!
People go out to the wilderness to camp and hike. Despite ranger warnings, they light a fire to cook their hot dogs but they don't put it out properly.
lindabew3540
YES! But obammy and the rest of the libiots that infest this once upon a time great country will never accept the responsibility they bear for it.
Fielden,Actually lightning strikes count for more forest fires than human beings.It's natures way of cleaning up the underbrush and diseased trees making way for new healthy growth.
It is human beings. They may heed ranger warnings, but are not taking the time to completely put out fires. They are not getting the idea that an ember can smolder for hours.
OK Tony, in wyo, now we know it was you, we are coming to get you so maybe you better take your pyro act to another state, I suggest Mississippi, the republicans down there want to euthanize all their old folks anyhow.
Cleaning lady, you are correct. But there have been no storms or lightning, even in the mountains. It is very dry out here, and there are thousands of people out in the wilderness...
OH yes I know, blame it on Mr Obama,
Some of you have been listening to way too much late night talk radio!
Fielden,You are correct.My bad.The lightning strikes were in the San Bernardino Mountains.I used to live in Azusa by the way.The smoke from the fires are horrible.
It is so interesting that Idaho currently has three fires totalling over 1/2 million acres threatening towns, closing roads and causing evacuations of thousands of people and not a mention in the news but someone lights a barbeque grill in california and it makes headlines.
i hear ya. ive been to that @!$%#ty set of foothills called angeles national forest, and it'd be better off burning.
Between burning the whole forest, and kicking the people out, I would say kick the people out.
Tsalam ....
I was just about to mention that very same thing until I came upon your post .. it's sad how some peoples lives aren't as important as others. Maybe cause the vote count isn't that important in Idaho .. ya think ? That would be terrible if it is true.
My son is a wildland firefighter from California and he has spent more time fighting fires in other states this year and will probably be leaving for your state soon. Actually, we have been following the Idaho fires in our newspapers and in the news. However, this is actually just the start of our fire season and one little fire that is started by a BBQ can turn into something just as bad.
FYI - Eastside - Everyones lives are equally important. No decent person wants to see others go through any kind of devestation.
Worry about Iran,worry about Iran. That is all that is being hammered into our brains. All the while all this biological warfare, wildfires leaving people homeless, banks and big oil screwing us, etc...
Critical times hard to deal with, will be here.
This is what happens when cigarette smokers are around. I've seen the Vietnamese constantly throw lit cigarettes out of their car windows. When will they wake up and be responsible? Never.
Wassamatter scott ???? you go to Nam and get your butt greased or something, lots of hate there.
Just facts. Go to any park and observe. Simple
Scott,Seriously,you know their race?I've seen many people throw their cigarettes out the car window and they come in many colors.
Yes I do and unfortunately I lived next door to them. They constantly threw their mokes over the fence into my yard. They tried to poison my dog (FAILURE) as I had a smart vet who asked who my neighbors were. He being a vet, both ways, he knew how to treat her. She survived. On garbage day, I find one of them going threw my garbage can. This stupid f"ck asks me "where's the dog". I could have killed him if I was not a disabled man. But I do carry a glock legally in my fanny pack so I waas able and willing to plug this thug.
This place is too close to L.A. it should be closed to the public except for bike and day hiking. It is mainly a desert if you see it in person, and you can understand that one cigarette thrown out a window will start a fire here easily.
It's not that close to L.A.Glendora to L.A. is over 25 miles or one hour by freeway in good traffic.There have been lightning strikes in So.Cal and is possibly the cause of the fire.
Only the lower elevations are desert. Alot of the desert directly to the east is considered part of the national forest land. Same with the San Bernardino and Cleveland national forests, the lower elevations are desert.
Dang, you caught us, Arizonans trying to raise our home values by burning down the west.
I am about 5 miles from the leading edge of the Mustang Complex Fire in east central, Lemhi County, Idaho. 216,000 acres and little if any mention of it on the news.
Lightening caused it as it has been doing since the last Ice Age around 10,000 years ago. Fire is part of the natural cycle of nature. However, over population of this planet is not part of the natural cycle and the planet is starting to show the wear and tear of over 7 billion humans on her surface. When the time comes, this earth will shake the human lice off her surface and go as it has for the last4.5 billion years.
The earth does not need saving. Just a few intelligent people will do! The rest can just go back into the primal ooze from whence they emerged.
And enough with the religious gloom and doom. Total stupidity and only stupid people believe it. So please shut up!
fire ~fire! ahh ahh fire fire fire !
nice one bevis
What's the population of California now 35mil? I remember when it was 10mil. Not a bad place to live back then, but I could not imagine sharing it with 25million more people...glad I left long ago...and don't even think about following me, nobody wants you here....
I was born and raised here.I'm glad that I stayed.Can't beat our beautiful year round weather.
Yes you can...but if you never leave you'll neve know..37 years was enough for me...but then I have a low tollerance for crowds...
And that's the downside to California.Too congested and too polluted.
They're all Vietnamese there now. In San Jose at the court house, they fly the south vietnamese flag along side our national flag. How messed up is that? Pretty much I think.
This happens every so many years which make the air even worse to breathe in the valley.
Yes breathing is very important...
Hi, the InciWeb link is not correct in the article. The correct link is InciWeb dot ORG not InciWeb dot COM. The COM one is a search engine aggregator site.
My thoughts go out to all who are impacted by this fire.
Stefan
NBC printed another article about million dollar home sales soaring in Silicon Valley. With no end to these forest fires, one has to wonder why those millionaires and billionaires are literally throwing their money into a tinderbox. If forest fires aren't bad enough, high property taxes and illegal immigrants make California more unbearable to live.
Wow, a 3,600 acre fire in California is national news, but nothing about the 180,000 acres that is burning in western Nebraska right now with several homes lost.
Thats rigth Gumby, examine all the postings here, is all about hate and who uses this campground, (mexicans, vietnamese, etc,etc), This very same people couldn't care anyless about the fire here in cal, even less about the one in nebraska, and probably dont care if the entire state of Nebraska went up in smoke.
(that's why californians are not welcome anywhere)
...or any of the other states unless they are the states of residence...& this is such an easy medium for sharing one's hates & dislikes, etc.; too bad these comment sections couldn't be used for encouragement, alerting others of donation drives, communicating that one's loved ones are alive & well, that type of thing...My prayers go out to everyone & Peace & Comfort to all...I would say "God's Peace & Comfort" but even that can bring out a negative post...
Has anyone else sometimes had the wish that they never started on one of these threads? I have to wonder what the deleted/collapsed posts say, when the ones that aren't deleted/collapsed are out there...
They should have shut down the camp grounds. When there is such a huge fire risk it only seems the smart thing to do. We have had similar situations up here in northern Wisconsin and they close our camp grounds down after too many incidents with camper-bourne wildfires.
There's something, going about these fires, that the Goverment is not revealing ?
During dry seasons, building a campfire should be prohibited as it is too easy for them to get out of control. Propane stoves should be okay as long as they are inside the camper, motorhome, or large tent and are used for cooking only.
Fire, so easy a caveman can do it......