Residents Evacuated from San Gabriel Complex Fire

The Reservoir Fire, which broke out near the Morris Reservoir dam, has burned 2,400 acres. The Fish Fire, which is located near Opal Canyon and Brookridge roads near Duarte, has burned 3,000 acres.

The initial fire, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, started Monday when a pickup truck crashed off Highway 39 near Morris Dam and started a brush fire. The driver was killed in the crash and ensuing fire. The fires grew to more than 1,500 acres in a matter of hours. The blaze now exceeds 2400 acres in size.

The Azusa Fire Dept just tweeted: Highway 39 & Encanto Pkwy closed. Fire in the canyon ‪#‎ReservoirFire‬ ‪#‎FishFire‬ Updates via Twitter @AzusaPD

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has deployed additional deputies from Industry Station, San Dimas Station, Parks Bureau, and Transit Policing Division to ensure the public safety of the residents affected by the “Fish Fire” in the city of Duarte. Neighboring police agencies that include Azusa, Baldwin Park, and Glendora Police Departments have additionally responded in a collaborative effort to protect the citizens and property of Duarte.

Mandatory evacuations have now been implemented for residents living among the 3100 and 3500 blocks of Brookridge Road, Duarte.

In addition, please secure your small family pets with you at the “Duarte Community Center,” 1610 Huntington Drive, Duarte, and not at the school facility at 1850 Highland Drive as previously mentioned. Larger animals, including horses, continue to board at the Pomona Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Avenue, Pomona.

LASD deputies remain throughout the area to ensure public safety and to help residents safely navigate out of the area, police said

The two fires, burning above Duarte and Azusa, are about two miles from each other and have charred a combined 5,4000 acres and there are still no containment Tuesday morning. They are burning out of control, and residents are being evacuated.

Within about an hour, the Fish Fire appeared to start not far from homes in nearby Duarte, in the area of Brookridge and Opal Canyon roads. The second fire prompted evacuation orders for homes north of Fish Canyon between Encanto Parkway and Greenbank, and well as homes on Brookridge.

"We were able to use our night water-dropping helicopters to slow that advance, but that still is a very uncontrolled flank of the fire," Tripp said.

The reason the fires are still uncontrolled is that there are a lot of old fuel beds in the forest from the four-year-long drought, Angeles National Forest Fire Chief Robert Garcia explained.

People entering the National Forest for recreational activities were urged to be diligent and be on the lookout for fire rescue personnel, Garcia said. "If you see fire activities you should call 911 to notify us for a rapid respond," he said.

The fire was burning uphill in extremely steep terrain with heavy vegetation, Garcia said.

About 90 minutes later, another fire, dubbed the Fish Fire, started above Duarte, near homes. That fire quickly expanded to cover over 3,000 acres and threatened homes overnight.

Evacuation orders were issued in Azusa for the Mountain Cove, El Encanto and Rainbow Ranch areas, with an evacuation center established at Memorial Park, 320 N. Orange Ave. Voluntary evacuations were in effect for the Mirador and Crystal Canyon areas.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for Duarte Mesa residents living above Markwood Street between Westvale Road and Tocino Drive, and above Conata between Tocino Drive and Mountain Crest Road.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued earlier for residents on Brookridge Road, with voluntary evacuations in effect for residents north of Fish Canyon Road from Greenbank Avenue to Encanto Parkway.

*4th Update* Additional Rd closures ‪#‎LASD‬ Deputies Assisting with Voluntary Evacuations, Traffic Control, Duarte ‪#‎FishFire‬

Los Angeles County Firefighters and Sheriff’s Deputies, along with many other police agencies, organizations, and volunteers continue to battle the blazing Fish Canyon and Reservoir Fire.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies continue to assist residents in the northeast area of Duarte in voluntary evacuations.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Emergency Operations Bureau personnel has also advised of additional road closures and warnings of possible evacuations to the residents in the City of Monrovia north of Foothill Boulevard and east of Myrtle Avenue and Bradbury area.

As you navigate out of the area, please be advised of these additional Road Closures:

Mount Olive Drive at Royal Oaks Drive

Vineyard Avenue at Markwood Street

Woodbluff Street from Sunnydale Drive

Greenbank Avenue from Deerlane Drive

Conata Street at Bettyhill Avenue

Mel Canyon Road at Opal Canyon Road

Mountain Crest Road at Fish Canyon Road

Encanto parkway at Markwood Street

Mount Olive Drive at Woodlyn Lane

Mount Olive Drive at Elda Street

At this time, the fire has affected a total of 3200 acres and approximately 600 residents and 400 homes have been evacuated.

Los Angeles County Firefighters and Sheriff’s Deputies, along with many other police agencies, organizations, and volunteers continue to battle the blaze in an effort to secure the safety and wellbeing of you and your loved ones.

Large animals will no longer board at Hansen Dam Equestrian Center, 11127 Orcas Avenue, Sylmar, as previously mentioned. Large animals can now be taken to Gate 12 at the Pomona Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Avenue, Pomona.