Morris Fire Burns up to 275 Acres, Boy Scouts Rescued by Air

Vehicle traffic blocked on San Gabriel Canyon Road (AP Photo/San Gabriel ValleyTribune, Watchara Phomicinda)

The wildfire that began this afternoon in the Angeles National Forest has grown to 275 acres with only 10 percent of it contained by 9:40 p.m. The blaze began shortly before 4:30 p.m. north of Azusa near the Morris Dam in San Gabriel Canyon. A cause is not known yet, but police detained at least one man, reported ABC7-TV.

Around 600 firefighters have responded and several hikers and campers were evacuated, including 18 boy scouts who were airlifted to safety. Only a few minor injuries have been reported.

Temperatures will continue to rise tomorrow and Thursday and a Red Flag Warning will be begin Wednesday morning, meaning that the combination of low humidity, high heat and dry fuels in the mountains can can "create explosive fire growth potential," in the words of the National Weather Service.