San Gabriel Complex Fire Almost Fully Contained

DUARTE - The San Gabriel Complex Fire continued to burn Wednesday, having charred 5,399 acres since it broke out more than a week ago.

The Complex Fire consists of two blazes that are burning relatively close to each other but that have not merged. The Reservoir Fire has consumed 1,146 acres and is 96 percent containment, while the Fish Fire has scorched 4,253 acres, with 88 percent containment attained, fire officials said.

As of Wednesday morning, 370 firefighters were battling the combined fire, down from 556 Tuesday, forest officials said, adding that firefighting personnel from both Los Angeles County and the U.S. Forest Service have been working to extinguish the flames.

Firefighters have been taken by helicopter to remote sites to continue fire suppression in areas difficult to access. Heat remains an issue for the firefighters on the scene amid the region's ongoing heat wave, forest officials said.

At 6 p.m., authorities plan to reopen Highway 39, which is shut down at old San Gabriel Road.

All residents in the foothills above Azusa and Duarte who were evacuated were all allowed to return home as of last Friday, and roads are no longer restricted to just residents, according to the Sierra Madre Police Department. At its height, the fire triggered the evacuation of 1,376 residences. The American Red Cross evacuation center has been closed.

The Reservoir Fire broke out shortly after 11 a.m. June 20 off Highway 39 near the Morris Reservoir dam north of Azusa, according to Sherry Rollman of the U.S. Forest Service. It was sparked by a vehicle running off Highway 39 near the reservoir, California Highway Patrol Officer Alex Rubio said. One person died in that crash.

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.

The two fires were designated as the San Gabriel Complex Fire, even though they never merged.

With the Fourth of July holiday coming up, forest officials stressed to the public that fireworks are illegal every day in every forest and campsite. Drones are also restricted from the area, authorities said.

Fire condition information is available at (626) 574-5208.

— City News Service, photo courtesy of the city of Duarte