by Mick Rhodes | editor@claremont-courier.com

As of noon Wednesday, which was the latest available update at press time, the Fork Fire had burned 301 acres in the east fork of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument section of Angeles National Forest above Azusa, and was 70% contained.

The first reports of the fire near East Fork Road, which leads from Highway 39 on the Azusa side to Glendora Mountain Road to the east, came in at 3:21 p.m. Friday, July 19.

Several people were treated for smoke inhalation in the forest area along East Fork Road the afternoon of July 19, according to Angeles National Forest Public Affairs Officer Dana Dierkes.

The east fork of the San Gabriel River, popular recreation area in the summertime, was closed for the weekend due to the fire. Hikers and campers in the area were evacuated shortly after it broke out. Residents in the Camp Williams area were not evacuated.

Firefighters from Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Cal Fire, and Ventura County Fire have been working on the blaze, with support from the California Highway Patrol, and LA County Sheriff’s Department.