Chantry Fire Contained, Officials Say

ARCADIA, CA — Hikers and picknickers were evacuated and firefighters were injured after a brush fire broke out at a recreation area in Angeles National Forest Monday afternoon, according to officials.

The fire broke for unknown reasons Monday at 12:30, according to Andrew Mitchell, an Angeles National Forest spokesperson. The fire broke out near a picnic restroom, and spread downhill near the Hermit Falls and Chantry Flats area north of Sierra Madre. By 4 p.m. the blaze had spread to seven acres.

My family and I were hiking and ended up having to run right next to the #Chantryfire to get out pic.twitter.com/EQ0KNAi1oQ
— tired ™ (@still_tired_) July 20, 2020

About 120 personnel from the U.S. Forest Service, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and crews from location departments in Arcadia, Monrovia, Pasadena, Sierra Madre, and Glendale battled the blaze, according to a Facebook post from the Arcadia Fire Department. They were assisted by six helicopters and two water tankers.

At 4 p.m. Arcadia Fire and the Angeles National Forest reported that the fire was 50 percent contained. The Sierra Madre Fire Department reported the fire as 100 percent contained.

One firefighter was injured by a rock that hit his shoulder and was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition. No structural damage has been reported.

Though the fire was reported to be 100% contained, the Angeles National Forest announced Tuesday that the area around Chantry Flat will remain closed to the public until next Monday.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Notice: Due to #ChantryFire, for public safety Chantry Flat will remain closed until Mon, July 27. Firefighting trucks and heavy equip will be operating on the narrow canyon road. For safety, clean-up & recovery, no access allowed by vehicle, bike or foot traffic. Thank you. https://t.co/ZsvrOA0iG6
— Angeles_NF (@Angeles_NF) July 21, 2020