(UPDATED at 6:10 a.m. PDT June 22, 2016)
The activity on the Fish and Reservoir Fires that comprise the San Gabriel Complex near Los Angeles has lessened over the last 24 hours. The Fish Fire is still generating heat near the top of the fire and on the southwest side.
The combined acreage for the two fires is now 4,900 acres according to the U.S. Forest Service — 1,200 acres for the Reservoir Fire and 3,700 acres for the Fish Fire. Approximately 1,040 personnel are currently committed to these fires.
The mandatory evacuations for parts of the city of Duarte and in the national monument still remain in effect.
In spite of predictions otherwise, the two fires have still not merged and are over a mile apart.
Tuesday night firefighters continued structure protection along the south perimeter above Duarte. On Wednesday hand crews will hold and improve the fire perimeter, patrol along Highway 39, and seek opportunities to build indirect dozer lines along the Red Box Road.
With the exception of the wind, which could be an issue, the weather forecast for Wednesday favors firefighters, with moderate temperatures and relative humidity. However the wind will be out of the southwest at 8 to 11 mph with gusts up to 17 mph.
The view from Air7 over the #SanGabrielComplex near Duarte… Not a lot of active flame. @abc7darsha on the ground. pic.twitter.com/EGEfTFjLxE
— Dan Rasmussen (@djrasmussen) June 22, 2016
****
(UPDATE at 9:232a.m. PDT, June 21, 2016)
At a 9 a.m. press conference fire officials at the Fish and Reservoir Fires said the expected nighttime downslope winds that intensified after 4 a.m. caused an increase in fire activity, pushing the Fish Fire down the steep slopes above Duarte, California. With the assistance of at least one water-dropping night-flying helicopter firefighters were able to prevent the loss of any structures.
After a Chief with Los Angeles County Fire Department said they put out the fire at the base of the slopes behind the residences early Tuesday morning, he said there is no containment in that area or any other area on the fire. He also said he does not foresee any relaxation of the evacuation order in the near future.
Fire officials expect the two fires to merge. The incident is now known as the San Gabriel Complex.
****
(UPDATE at 7:54 a.m. PDT June 21, 2016)
The Fish and Reservoir Fires near Glendora, Azuza, and Duarte in southern California have not grown together. According to satellite heat-sensing data they were still about 1.3 miles apart at 3:23 Monday morning.
The U.S. Forest Service reports that the size estimates of the fires are 3,000 acres for the Fish Fire and 2,400 acres for the Reservoir Fire.
A Type 2 incident management team with Mike Wakoski as Incident Commander is assigned to both fires. They had an inbriefing scheduled for 8 p.m. on Monday.
Time lapse #4, this one covers a 1.5 hours 2:45 and 4:15 PM @JoshSvensson #ReservoirFire #FishFire #cawildfires pic.twitter.com/dJ6OLzHefK
— Barry Parker (@bfireman5) June 21, 2016
****
(UPDATE at 9:40 p.m. PDT June 20, 2016)
The U.S. Forest Service reports the Fish Fire has burned 3,000 acres and the Reservoir fire, 1,500 acres. LA County reports that as of 8:30 p.m. the two fires had not merged… yet. They were still 1.5 miles apart. But at that time the Fish Fire was 2,000 acres.
Incredible #wildfire shot – smoke behind Los Angeles skyline (AP Photo / Ringo H.W. Chiu) pic.twitter.com/djKN54uszh
— Cassandra Gauthier (@cassgtv) June 21, 2016
****
(Originally published at 4:45 p.m. PDT June 20, 2016. Updated at 5:33 p.m. PDT June 20, 2016)
Two wildfires started today near Los Angeles and both got off to a roaring start. The map above shows the location of the fires at 1:21 PDT on Monday, about two to three hours after they started. They have grown substantially since then.
The Reservoir Fire ignited at about 11 a.m. after a vehicle accident on Highway 39 near Morris Reservoir on the steep slopes above Glendora, California. Within about three hours it had burned 1,200 acres and required the evacuation of San Gabriel Canyon recreation area. At 5:30 p.m. it was estimated at 1,500 acres.
Continue reading “California: San Gabriel Complex of Fires near Los Angeles”
