Brush fire burns in the Angeles National Forest

A brush fire that burned more than 30 acres of Angeles National Forest today was 60% contained this afternoon and appeared heading toward full containment by later this evening, authorities said.

About 300 firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and Los Angeles city and county fire departments battled the blaze that broke out near 13000 Little Tujunga Canyon Road about 1:45 p.m., said Angeles National Forest spokeswoman Dee Dechert.

“We’re moving in the right direction. We will have crew on scene through the night, and we’re cautiously optimistic," Dechert said. "Unless the winds pick up, we should be picking this one up soon, I’d say within the day.”

Smoke could be seen from "quite a distance," she said.

The fire is in the same vicinity of last year’s Marek fire, Angeles National Forest spokeswoman Sherry Rollman said.

“Right now it’s up on the ridge, burning east,” she said.

Four air tankers were on the scene, with more expected. No structures were threatened, and no injuries were reported.

-- Corina Knoll

Comments

[Norm Silver]

Let us hope the US Forest Service has adequate personnel in their specialized fire operation to cope with what could be a very large fire.

[J Moore]

With all the current budget cuts and lack of trained fire fighting resorces this is going to be a long hot fire season for the Forest Service and CDF.