Multiple fires break out in L.A. County amid hot, dry conditions
At least three fires broke out in Los Angeles County on Friday afternoon amid hot and dry conditions that are expected to persist through the weekend.
In Palmdale, firefighters were battling a 300-acre brush fire near the corner of North 35th Street East and East Avenue Q. In the Angeles National Forest, the Fork fire ignited and quickly grew to 250 acres in the East Fork area above Glendora, emitting a giant smoke plume that was visible for miles.
That area is popular with hikers and those looking to swim in the San Gabriel River, making the situation particularly dangerous.
Another heat wave is expected to bring dangerously hot temperatures across California’s interior this weekend.
Angeles National Forest spokeswoman Dana Dierkes said that two people were being treated for potential smoke inhalation and that a “small number” of people were evacuated from the parking lot area at the East Fork Trailhead.
She said firefighters from multiple agencies are on the scene, as well as seven air tankers and eight helicopters.
The Los Angeles Fire Department also was responding to a 29-acre brush fire between the 210 Freeway and La Tuna Canyon Road in Tujunga.
“In terms of fire potential, we just saw a few pop off in the last hour or two,” said Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
A heat warning is in effect through Wednesday for the Antelope Valley and the mountains of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties, with temperatures potentially reaching 106 degrees. Low humidity is expected to persist at least through the weekend.
The coastal plain and valleys are expected to be cooler.
While hot and dry conditions make it easier for fires to start, Lewis said conditions haven’t yet been severe enough to issue a red flag warning.
In the Antelope Valley, firefighters were making “good progress” on what’s been dubbed the Deer fire, said Luis Garcia, a spokesman with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He said structures may be “impacted” but aren’t expected to be threatened.
In Angeles National Forest, the Fork fire forced the closure of East Fork Road between Highway 39 and Glendora Mountain Road, a social media post for Angeles National Forest said.
“Our goal is to put this fire out as quickly as possible,” Dierkes said.
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