by Mick Rhodes | editor@claremont-courier.com

A fire reported at 3:21 p.m. today in the east fork of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument section of Angeles National Forest had scorched 75 acres as of 5:15 p.m., according to Angeles National Forest Public Affairs Officer Dana Dierkes.

Named the Fork Fire, it is burning near East Fork Road, which leads from Highway 39 on the Azusa side to Glendora Mountain Road.

“Several people” are being treated for smoke inhalation in the forest area along East Fork Road, Dierkes said, but it was unclear how many. Also unclear at this point was whether they had been transported to a hospital or were being treated at the scene.

Firefighters from Angeles National Forest and Los Angeles County are on the scene, with support from the California Highway Patrol, and LA County Sheriff’s Department.

The Courier will update this story as more information becomes available.

Looking north on Sumner Avenue in Claremont at the Fork Fire burning near East Fork Road, which leads from Highway 39 on the Azusa side to Glendora Mountain Road. Photo/ Lara Jenkins