Bobcat Fire: Feds Investigate SCE; 65 Percent Containment

LOS ANGELES, CA — U.S. Forest Service officials were investigating Southern California Edison in connection to the Bobcat Fire, which burned 114,103 acres as of Sunday. Fire crews worked through the weekend to increase containment from 61 to 65 percent by Sunday.

Some 1,427 first responders worked overnight to patrol the fire perimeter and extinguish hot spots, U.S. Forest Service officials said. Areas of focus for the weekend included Mt. Wilson to Highway 2, Dorr Canyon and Rock Creek Road to ensure containment lines would hold against the anticipated Santa Ana winds, expected Monday. Full containment was not expected until Wednesday.

The fire has raged for almost three weeks, forcing thousands to flee from their homes all over Los Angeles County and has continued to threaten communities in the Antelope Valley and San Gabriel Valley foothills. Crews expect to contain the fire by Wednesday.

SCE reportedly experienced an equipment issue around the same time the Bobcat Fire sparked and investigators are working to determine if it was a factor in igniting one of the largest wildfires Los Angeles County has ever seen.

The utility has argued that it was not responsible for starting the fire, insisting that fire was detected by a camera on Mt. Wilson moments before it experienced an equipment issue.

Firefighters were working to bolster containment lines, making sure they were secure for the potential arrival of the Santa Ana winds, forecasted for early next week.

"Residents will continue to see smoke from burning islands within the perimeters. Engines will remain available in the north for smoke checks near the communities," Forest Service officials said.

About a week into the fire igniting, firefighters were forced to confront 300-foot flames to save the historic Mt. Wilson Observatory, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Later, the popular nature attraction, Devil's Punchbowl Natural Area, was destroyed by the fire, Los Angeles County parks officials said. The area was closed to the public until further notice.

The fire has now broken records, scorching more acres than the Woolsey Fire of 2018, which incinerated 96,271 acres. The Station Fire in 2009 burned 160,577 acres.

Evacuation orders remained for:

• 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 orders were lifted Friday and changed to evacuation warnings for Antelope Valley residents who live:
• South of Fort Tejon Road and East Avenue W-14, east of 87th Street East, west of 165th Street East and Devil's Punchbowl, and north of the forest and Big Pines Highway;
• South of Highway 138, east of 165th Street, west of Largo Vista Road, and north of Big Pines Highway.
• Other evacuation warnings remained for:
• South of Big Pines Highway, east of Largo Vista Road, west of 263rd Street E. (county line), and north of the forest;
• South of Highway 138, north of Weber Ranch Road, east of Cheseboro Road, and west of 87th Street E;
• South of Pearblossom Highway, 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;
• 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;
• Unincorporated community of Wrightwood.

Evacuation warnings for Altadena and Pasadena issued on Sept. 8 were lifted, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Repopulation orders went into effect at 2 p.m. Thursday for residents in the East Fork areas of Julius Klein Conservation Camp 19, Camp Williams and River Community, the sheriff's department reported.

About 7 a.m. Thursday, evacuation warnings were changed to a "repopulation order" with "no restrictions" for the following areas:

• Clear Areas: north of East Avenue W-14, south of Pearblossom Highway, east of 155th Street East, west of 165th Street East;
• Sand Areas: north of Big Pine Highway and Highway 2, south of 138th Street East, east of Largo Vista Road, west of 263rd Street. The southwestern region of the Sand Area may have power outages.
• Ward Areas: north of Fort Tejon Road, south of East Avenue V, east of 87th Street East, west of 121st Street East.

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.

A South Coast Air Quality Management District's smoke advisory was extended through Saturday afternoon, with winds expected to push northeast and east into the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains.

"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, health officer for Los Angeles County. "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."

Firefighters earlier this week successfully set backfires, including from the air, to destroy vegetation fueling the blaze and protect the Mount Wilson Observatory and several broadcast and telecommunications towers.

A closure order has been issued for national forests in Southern California, including the Angeles National Forest, which will be closed through Oct. 1, the U.S. Forest Service said.

Flames have destroyed 138 structures and affected another 30, with eight 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 here.

Of the buildings destroyed, 65 were residential, one was commercial and 72 were described as "other."

The Bobcat Fire erupted on Sept. 6 near the Cogswell Dam and West Fork Day Use area northeast of Mount Wilson and within the Angeles National Forest.

The City News Service and Patch Staffer Kat Schuster contributed to this report.