Alta Vista and Briarcliff Evacs Lifted, But Firefighters Have Hard Day of Work Ahead

Evacuations were lifted on two Monrovia streets Sunday morning, but firefighters from across Los Angeles County remained hard at work to quell a blaze burning through the city's hillside.

Jennifer McClain, a spokeswoman for the city of Monrovia, said that evacuations have been lifted at Alta Vista Avenue and Briarcliff Road. However, firefighters still had a long day of work ahead of them and that evacuations remain in place for Hidden Valley and Highland.

According to McClain, about 55-percent of the so-called Madison fire had been contained as of Sunday morning. Throughout the evening, 20 engine crews and six hand crews from departments across Los Angeles County worked to keep the blaze under control. McClain said it was likely that firefighters would be working in hillside throughout the week to keep the area dampened and monitor for flareups.

All told, the Madison fire burned approximately 125-acres at its peak, with 200 firefighters participating in the effort to extinguish.

The fire broke out near Hillcrest Boulevard and Madison Avenue at 11:06 a.m. Saturday, and in 45 minutes it had spread to 10 acres of heavy brush. Winds were reported to be light and not a factor, but it nearly doubled in size in the next hour.

Highly visible flames and smoke snarled traffic on the nearby Foothills (210) Freeway. Initial reports were that a gardener had accidentally sparked the blaze with a power tool while removing possible fire fuel.

The Los Angeles City Fire Department sent a strike team with five engines, 25 firefighters and a water-dropping helicopter to help the Monrovia Fire Department. Fire engines from Pasadena and other San Gabriel Valley cities were also called in under mutual aid arrangements.

McClain said that 400 Monrovia homes were threatened by the flames, none of which were actually damaged by the fire.

-City News Service contributed to this report