2 brush fires erupt in Angeles National Forest north of Azusa, Duarte
AZUSA, Calif. -- Two brush fires erupted in the Angeles National Forest, north of Azusa and Duarte, amid record-breaking temperatures Monday.
The California Highway Patrol received a call at 10:57 a.m. that a pickup truck went over the embankment on Highway 39 near the Morris Reservoir dam, and that the truck was catching fire.
Firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and the Los Angeles County Fire Department were dispatched to the scene.
The blaze, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, has now spread to 600 acres. The driver involved in the accident was declared dead, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
A second fire, called the Fish Fire, erupted nearby in the Duarte area about 90 minutes later. That fire has burned approximately 1,400 acres.
Evacuations ordered in Azusa and Duarte
Azusa police have ordered evacuations for Mountain Cove, Rainbow Canyon Ranch and El Encanto. An evacuation center has been set up at Memorial Park, 320 N. Orange Ave.
For the city of Duarte, an evacuation order has been issued for homes north of Fish Canyon between Encanto Parkway and Greenbank Avenue. An evacuation center has been set up at Duarte City Hall/Senior Center, 1610 Huntington Drive.
Smoke from the forest fires was seen by residents across the Southland, including West Covina, Alhambra and Brea. ABC7's Phillip Palmer said he could see the fires from Industry Hills.
City News Service contributed to this report.
