LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Bobcat Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest has grown to 115,548 acres, though containment is holding at 84%, officials said today.
The fire continues to threaten some 6,000 structures in the foothills of the Antelope and San Gabriel valleys.
Firefighters were expected to spend Sunday mopping up, patrolling and improving containment lines, but an exception is an interior island northeast of Mt. Wilson, where a pocket of fire was burning in difficult terrain of about 300 acres. Firefighters expect the pocket to burn on its own through the day, and heavy smoke might be visible during peak heat hours.
Mt. Wilson is 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.
Flames have destroyed 170 structures and damaged another 47, with 87 residential structures destroyed. A map, which is compiled from ongoing field damage inspection and subject to change, can be viewed at lacounty.gov/recovery/damage-inspection/.
Six injuries have also been reported, according to USFS officials.
As of Sunday, evacuation orders remained for residents:
-- in Paradise Springs -- south of Big Pines Highway, east of Devil's Punchbowl, west of Largo Vista Road, and north of the forest;
-- south and west of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon, east of Angeles Forest Highway, and north of Angeles Crest Highway; and
-- residences along Angeles Crest Highway, between Angeles Forest Highway and Highway 39.
Evacuation warnings remained:
-- south of Big Pines Highway, east of Largo Vista Road, west of 263rd Street East (county line), and north of the forest;
-- south of Mt. Emma Road, north of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, east of Angeles Forest Highway, and west of Pacifico Mountain; and
-- East Fork Areas: Julius Klein Conservation Camp 19, Camp Williams and the River Community.
The Nature Center at the Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area was burned by the fire and is closed until further notice, Los Angeles County parks officials said.
The Angeles National Forest is closed until at least Thursday, Oct. 8.
The Forest is closed to all general activity, including developed campgrounds and day-use sites due to wildfire threat, and the use of any ignition sources -- such as campfires and gas stoves -- is prohibited.
Photo: Getty Images
The following road closures were also in effect:
-- Big Santa Anita Rd (the Chantry road);
-- Big Pines Highway is open but Big Rock Creek Rd remains closed;
-- Highway 2 is from Big Pines to La Canada;
-- Angeles Forest Highway from Aliso Canyon to Highway 2;
-- Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Rd;
-- Highway 39 above Old San Gabriel Canyon Rd.
Thirty-three members of California's congressional delegation, including Rep. Judy Chu, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, wrote a letter to President Donald Trump this week urging him to support Gov. Gavin Newsom's request for a Major Disaster Declaration to respond to the wildfires raging in California, including the Bobcat Fire, which is burning in Chu's district.
The Bobcat Fire erupted on Sept. 6 near the Cogswell Dam and West Fork Day Use area northeast of Mt. Wilson and within the Angeles National Forest. The cause is still under investigation.
Some 711 personnel were engaged in the firefighting effort as of Sunday.
The estimated full containment date for the fire is Oct. 30.