San Gabriel Complex Fire: Evacuated Residents Begin Returning Home

AZUSA, CA - Some residents evacuated from their homes in Duarte and Azusa were cleared to return home today as firefighters kept up their campaign against the 5,235-acre San Gabriel Complex Fire, which was 15 percent contained.

About 950 firefighters are battling the blazes in the Angeles National Forest and the foothills above Duarte and Azusa.

They previously were called the Fish and Reservoir fires before authorities decided on the San Gabriel Complex Fire designation even though the blazes, burning about 1.5 miles apart, have not merged.

Residents of approximately 530 homes evacuated in Duarte -- north of Royal Oaks Drive, east of Greenbank Avenue and west of Encanto Parkway -- were allowed to return home Wednesday.

Late this morning, the sheriff's department announced that beginning at noon, some residents who live in the Las Lomas area of Duarte will be able return to their homes.

This includes those evacuated from Vineyard Avenue to Willowglen Drive; Las Lomas Road up to Willowglen Drive; and Woodbluff Avenue to Starpine Drive.

Residents must show identification to be allowed back into the neighborhood.

However, residents in the Las Lomas area in Duarte who live north of Willowglen Drive are still under evacuation.

And residents of the Mesa area in Duarte also remain under evacuation, including those who live on Mount Olive Drive north of Woodlyn Lane, Spinks Canyon, Rim Road, Golden Meadow Drive, and High Mesa Drive.

All other evacuations remain in effect.

New totals released this morning indicated that 1,326 homes have been evacuated, including 326 in Azusa and about 950 in Duarte.

So far, out of those evacuated in Duarte, the residents of about 694 homes were able to return home.

The remaining homes were evacuated from the San Gabriel Mountain communities.

"Due to the fact the city of Bradbury was not under any evacuation orders, no evacuation numbers have been collected," a sheriff's statement said.

"In the city of Bradbury our major area of concern continues to be the hillside of Bradbury residential area. We currently have deputies on patrol on 'fire watch' to assist in spotting fire in case the wind shifts towards this residential area."

Small animals such as dogs and cats were allowed back in with residents, but livestock and large private vehicles were not, because roadways need to remain accessible to large fire trucks.

"Please remember that security will be a priority," a sheriff's department official said, adding that residents will need to show identification.

Those who return will need to show their identification to deputies in the area, and residents cannot bring their livestock home until at least 24 hours after they return home.

Large vehicles, including trailers and RVs, are also prohibited from the area.

About 80 sheriff's authorities remain on duty at the fires, with 44 deputies patrolling the evacuated areas, Boese said.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Deputy Chief John Tripp advised residents of Bradbury and Monrovia on Tuesday to pay attention to news coverage of the fire, and have their evacuation plans ready in case they are ordered out of their homes, as the west side of the fire was the main area of concern.

Firefighting personnel from both the county and U.S. Forest Service were working to extinguish the flames.

The Reservoir Fire broke out shortly after 11 a.m. Monday off Highway 39 near the Morris Reservoir dam north of Azusa, according to Sherry Rollman of the U.S. Forest Service.

The fire was sparked by a vehicle running off the highway, as officials received a report at 10:57 a.m.

Monday of a fatal car crash along Highway 39 near the reservoir where the fire broke out, California Highway Patrol Officer Alex Rubio said.

About 90 minutes after the Reservoir Fire began, a second blaze was reported near Opal Canyon and Brookridge roads near the Duarte/Azusa border, about four miles southwest of the Reservoir Fire.

That blaze, dubbed the Fish Fire, quickly roared into the foothills, burning north away from homes but threatening some remote horse stables.

As of this morning, the size of the Fish Fire was listed at 4,035 acres and the size of the Reservoir fire was listed at 1,200 acres.

One firefighter was taken to the hospital around 6 p.m. Monday with "minor injuries" related to heat exhaustion, and a sheriff's deputy suffered similar injuries earlier that day, fire authorities said.

No other injuries were reported.

The Red Cross established an evacuation center at the Duarte Community Center, located at 1600 Huntington Drive.

Small animals can also be brought there, as animal control officials have trailers set up to store pets.

Large animals and livestock can be taken to the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center, located at 11127 Orcas Ave in Sylmar.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory because of the blazes, urging residents in smoke-affected areas to avoid strenuous outdoor activity.

Those with respiratory or heart disease, older adults and children were advised to remain indoors.

--City News Service; Photo by LACoFD VPP Craig Durling