Bobcat Fire Explodes To 103,135 Acres; New Evacuations Issued

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Bobcat Fire in the Angeles National Forest continued to rage overnight and had burned more than 103,135 acres acres Sunday morning with just 15% containment, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. As the fire surpassed 100,000 acres, the destructive blaze became one of the county's largest fires ever.

A beloved nature center, Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area, was destroyed in the fire. The nature center attracts some 130,000 visitors per year, the Associated Press reported.

The Arcadia Fire Department responded to a small flare-up above Chantry Sunday afternoon.

Evacuation orders were issued for residences along Angeles Crest Highway, between Angeles Forest Highway and Highway 39; the unincorporated areas of Juniper Hills, Devils Punch Bowl and Paradise Springs; unincorporated areas of Crystal Lake, East Fork of the San Gabriel River and Camp Williams; south of Highway 138, north of Big Rock Creek, east of 87th Street East and west of Largo Vista Road; south of 138th Street East, north of Big Pine Highway and Highway 2, east of Largo Vista Road and west of 263rd Street East; and south of Highway 138, north of East Avenue W-14, east of 155th Street East and West of 165th Street East.

On Saturday night, the unified fire command issued new evacuation orders for people living northwest of Mt. Emma, southeast of Highway 122 and west of Cheeseboro Road.

Structures have been damaged in the Antelope Valley and losses were expected, according to Vince Pena, unified incident commander with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The number of homes affected was not available.

Earlier broadcast reports from the scene showed structures that appeared to be homes burning in the Juniper Hills area.

"Yesterday the fire was very active due to the very windy conditions, the fire reached Juniper Hills and the adjacent communities, homes were threatened and impacted," the Forest Service said. "A strategic firing operation occurred to establish a secure line between the Ranch 2 Fire scar and Highway 39. Elsewhere on the fire crews had success improving and securing lines."

The following areas remained under evacuation warnings Sunday evening, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department:

• South of Pearblossom Highway, east and north of Angeles Forest Highway, north and west of Mt. Emma Road, east and south of Highway 122, and west of Cheseboro Road;
• South of Highway 2, north of Blue Ridge Truck Trail, east of Highway 39, and west of the Los Angeles County border;
• South of Avenue U-8, north of East Avenue W-14, east of 121st East, and west of 155th Street East;
• South of Pearblossom Highway, south and east of Pearblossom Highway, north and west of Mt. Emma Road, north and east of Angeles Forest Highway, and west of Cheseboro Road;
• South of Mt. Emma Road, north of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, east of Angeles Forest Highway, and west of Pacifico Mountain.

Officials urged residents to be alert for any additional evacuation orders or warnings. Lower temperatures were expected to aid the firefighting effort, however.

Officials said the fire continued to flare up around Mt. Wilson, home not only one of the crown jewels of astronomy but also home to infrastructure that transmits cellphone signals and television and radio broadcasts for the greater Los Angeles Area. Once again, though, firefighters were able to protect the area from any damage.

The Wrightwood area in San Bernardino County was also under an evacuation warning.

By 3:30 p.m., the fire was holding west of Highway 39 from Crystal Lake to the San Gabriel Reservoir. Winds were pushing both the northwestern and southwestern edges with growth towards the west, The Angeles National Forest Tweeted.

While the blaze was mostly rerouted from the Monrovia and Arcadia communities, it was marching toward Antelope Valley over the weekend, prompting evacuations in the foothills Saturday. Numerous homes have burned to the ground in the area.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Saturday afternoon that all residents were ordered to leave in an "evacuation box" south of 138th Street East, north of Big Pine Highway and Highway 2, west of 263rd East, and east of Largo Vista Road.

BOBCAT FIRE STATUS OF EVACUATION ORDERS AND WARNINGS-

THE FOLLOWING AREAS WILL REMAIN UNDER EVACUATION ORDERS: pic.twitter.com/xgchwZMEyJ
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) September 20, 2020

As firefighters prepared for winds to kick up Sunday, gusts were expected to subside Monday and Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

The Bobcat Fire exploded Friday and Saturday after an onset of intense winds fanned the massive blaze. The fire burned out of control in several directions, destroying several structures and homes.

The Los Angeles Fire Department sent two strike teams Saturday afternoon under the mutual aid agreement to help fight the Bobcat Fire, L.A. Mayor EricGarcetti said.

The fire swelled to 17,000 acres between Friday and Saturday and made a "hard push to the west and north" as wind gusts reached 44 mph, the Forest Service said.

"Mt. Wilson is still safe and we will continue to focus on the north end of the fire," officials said after daybreak Friday as fire retardant was placed around Mount Wilson.

The #BobcatFire Unified Incident Command Team have issued an evacuation WARNING for the following areas:
- South of Pearblosson Hwy
- Northeast of Angeles Forest
- Northwest of Mt. Emma
- Southeast of Hwy 122
- West of Cheseboro Rd https://t.co/nQDrIz32Lr
— Angeles_NF (@Angeles_NF) September 19, 2020

The Bobcat Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest, which has destroyed several homes in the Antelope Valley, remained at 15 percent containment Saturday as additional evacuation orders and warnings were issued.

The was also threatening some desert communities along Highway 138 Saturday.

"Today, crews will focus on securing the fire's perimeter in the north in an effort to stop any additional spread, especially to the communities in the northeast and northwest," the U.S. Forest Service said.

Full containment of the fire, which will be achieved by way of cleared vegetation, is not estimated until Oct. 30.

Arcadia fire crews are responding to a small flare-up above Chantry. Crews are actively working the fire. There is no change in alert status at this time.
— Arcadia Fire Dept (@ArcadiaFireDept) September 20, 2020

Crews have been working for days to protect the Mount Wilson Observatory and nearby broadcast towers valued at more than $1 billion from approaching flames.

Observatory personnel were evacuated. Mount Wilson is not only one of the crown jewels of astronomy but also home to infrastructure that transmits cellphone signals and television and radio broadcasts for the greater Los Angeles Area.

Dog evacuation. Kennel with about 300 dogs. #BobcatFire pic.twitter.com/2SyOAhHx0I
— (@LordLinds_) September 19, 2020

Structures have been damaged and losses were expected, according to Vince Pena, unified incident commander with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The number of homes affected was not available.

Broadcast reports from the scene showed structures that appeared to be homes burning in the Juniper Hills area, but the U.S. Forest Service could not confirm that.

Homes in Juniper Hills, Paradise Springs, Devil's Punchbowl and other communities in the northern part of the Angeles National Forest and southern part of the Antelope Valley were under evacuation orders.

Evacuation orders were in effect for residents:

-- North of Angeles Crest North and between Clear Creek Station and Hwy 39

-- East of Devils Punch Bowl Road, South of the Big Pines Hwy, North of the Big Rock Creek, and West of Jackson Lake

-- South of Pearblossom Hwy (SR138), North of Big Pines, East of 165th and West of Largo Vista Road

-- North of Fort Tejon Road, South of Avenue V, East of 87th E., West of 121 St E.

-- South of Avenue 12, North of Aqueduct, West of 165 St E and East of 121 St E.

-- South of Fort Tejon Road, North of Cooley Place, East of 89th St. E. and West of Longview Road

-- North of Pallett Creek, South of W. 114th St., East of Longview Road and West of 165th St.

-- 96th east to 116th St. E/Fort Tejon Road south to SR 2

-- 116th E to Devils Punchbowl Road/Fort Tejon Road to SR 2

-- Devils Punchbowl Road to and including Fenner Camp

-- Fenner Camp to intersection of SR 2 and Big Pines

-- Chilao, the CalTrans Yard, the 3 Points area and the Angeles Crest Christian Camp and the Crystal Lake area.

The agency said Saturday morning that crews would be focusing "on securing the fire's perimeter in the north in an effort to stop any additional spread, especially to the communities in the northeast and northwest. Expect fire growth towards Wrightwood on north and west around Chilao."

At around 2:30 p.m., the fire was making a hard push west toward Cheseboro Road near the Little Rock Reservoir, and air support was requested to slow it down.

On the fire's southern end, evacuation warnings were lifted as of 4 p.m. for the communities of Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Monrovia, Bradbury and Duarte in the San Gabriel Valley, while the warnings for Altadena and Pasadena remained in effect.

Officials urged residents to be alert for any additional evacuation orders or warnings that might take place Saturday due to forecasted gusty winds up to 25 mph. Lower temperatures were expected to aid the firefighting effort, however.

View of SuperScoopers picking water up from lake palmdale. #BobcatFire #LAFD pic.twitter.com/eQZ4Xc9pyY
— Anthony Marques (@anthony_mark9) September 19, 2020

A Red Cross evacuation center has been set up at Palmdale High School, located at 2137 E Avenue R, Palmdale, 93550. The first evacuation point at Santa Anita Park has closed but anyone who needed assistance was urged to call the Disaster Distress Hotline at 800-675-5799.

Evacuation warnings were also issued Thursday evening for the unincorporated area of Wrightwood, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reported.

A total of 1,663 first responders are currently assigned to the fire.

A closure order has been issued for all National Forests in Southern California.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended its smoke advisory through Saturday afternoon with most of its jurisdiction experiencing smoke impacts.

The Los Angeles Zoo, which closed last Sunday due to poor air quality, planned to reopen Saturday.

"Based on past fire events in the area, we do not anticipate air quality issues to affect our animals," according to a Twitter post from the zoo. "However, our animal care and veterinary health staff are closely monitoring the animals in outdoor habitats and are preparing to respond as necessary."

The Bobcat Fire ignited on Sept. 6 near the Cogswell Dam and West Fork Day Use area northeast of Mount Wilson and within the Angeles National Forest. The cause remains under investigation.

—The City News Service and Patch Staffer Kat Schuster contributed to this report.

My mother in her backyard. These are controlled backfires in Monrovia canyon. I now understand what fighting fire with fire means. Praise God for no wind. Thank you to our brave fire fighters, may you see that cross as you fight and know we are praying for you #BobcatFire pic.twitter.com/gw6juchf9E
— Shea Leparoux (@SheaLeparoux) September 16, 2020