LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Bobcat Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest has charred 114,202 acres and was 62% contained this morning and a smoke advisory warning of unhealthy air quality due to the fire was in effect.
“It is difficult to tell where smoke, ash or soot from a fire will go, or how winds will affect the level of these particles in the air, so we ask everyone to remember that smoke and ash can be harmful to health, even for people who are healthy,'' said Dr. Muntu Davis, the county's health officer. “If you can see smoke, soot, or ash, or you can smell smoke, pay attention to your immediate environment and take precautions to safeguard your health. These precautions are particularly important for children, older adults, and people with heart or lung diseases.''
The estimated containment date of the fire was pushed back to Oct. 30 as firefighters braced for challenging conditions brought on by a week of low humidity and high temperatures. Officials previously estimated full containment by Wednesday.
The fire has been burning for nearly three weeks, threatening communities in the Antelope Valley and foothills of the San Gabriel Valley, with 992 firefighting personnel assigned to the scene as of Tuesday night.
On Tuesday, crews were focused on strengthening containments lines, monitoring areas for spot fires, and looking for opportunities to attack the fire directly.
As of Tuesday, 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;
-- Residences along Angeles Crest Highway, between Angeles Forest Highway and Highway 39.
Evacuation warnings remained for:
-- 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;
-- East Fork Areas: Julius Klein Conservation Camp 19, Camp Williams and the River Community;
Tuesday morning an evacuation warning was lifted for the unincorporated community of Wrightwood in San Bernardino County.
Flames have destroyed 163 structures and affected another 35 in the Antelope Valley area, with seven sustaining minor damage and five major damage, according to a damage assessment provided by Los Angeles County officials. That map, which is compiled from ongoing field damage inspection and subject to change, can be viewed at lacounty.gov/recovery/damage-inspection/.
Of the buildings destroyed, 83 were residential, one was commercial and 79 were described as “other.''
The Nature Center at the Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area was burned by the fire, Los Angeles County parks officials said. The area is closed until further notice.
Evacuation orders were lifted Saturday for the following areas:
-- South of Highway 138, north of Weber Ranch Road, east of Cheseboro Road, and west of 87th Street E.
-- South of Highway 138, south and east of Highway 122 (Sierra Hwy/Pearblossom), north and west of Mount Emma Road, west of Cheseboro Road, north and east of Angeles Forest Highway.
Evacuation warnings for Altadena and Pasadena issued on Sept. 8 were lifted last week, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
The Red Cross evacuation centers at Palmdale High School and Santa Anita Park are now closed. Anyone still needing assistance was advised to call the Disaster Distress Hotline at 800-675-5799.
North of Little Rock Reservoir, patrols continued, as they did to the northeast into Juniper Hills, Punch Bowl, as well as the Little Rock area. Additional “mop up'' efforts proceeded to the southeast along Pinyon Ridge, which forms the southern boundary of the Borrego Valley. Further south, crews targeted Manzanita Trail.
Firefighters also made progress along the southern edge of the fire from San Gabriel through the fire scar to Trask Scout Reservation as they continue to patrol and mop up through Mt. Wilson.
Planners expected to continue monitoring areas plotted with dots on their maps that indicate concerning hot spots that could flare up again.
“Residents will continue to see smoke from burning islands within theperimeters,'' the U.S. Forest Service said. “Engines will remain available in the north for smoke checks near the communities.''
The fire has burned more acres than the Woolsey Fire of 2018, which scorched 96,271 acres. The Station Fire in 2009 burned 160,577 acres.
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.
Photo: Getty Images