Altadena Brush Fire: Evacuations Made, Hiking Trails Closed

ALTADENA, CA -- U.S. Forest Service firefighters worked Monday to put out a 10 1/2-acre brush fire in the Angeles National Forest that began Sunday afternoon near the Altadena area, authorities said.

The fire was reported about 3:30 p.m. Sunday near the Loma Alta and Chaney trails, the U.S. Forest Service said. When it first ignited, the forest service sent 160 firefighters to the scene and the Los Angeles County Fire Department sent 130 firefighters along with two airplanes and four helicopters, the forest service said.

At 4:37 p.m. the forest service reported that the majority of the forward progress was stopped and resources continued to build containment lines and suppress remaining active flames.

The blaze was 40 percent contained as of 8:31 p.m., forest service officials said.

L.A. County firefighters were released during the evening, a dispatch supervisor said.

Sheriff's deputies and search and rescue members began to voluntarily evacuate neighborhoods along the foothills and get hikers off the trails, Altadena sheriff's officials said.

The Millard Campground, Mt. Lowe Truck Trail, Chaney Trail, Sunset Ridge Trail and sections of the Altadena Crest Trail were closed until at least Wednesday.

City News Service contributed to this report.