Morris Fire Jumps San Gabriel River, Voluntary Evacuation Turns Mandatory

AP Photo/Noah Berger

As the Morris Fire continues to burn in the San Gabriel Canyon of the Angeles National Forest, a spot fire that has developed on the eastside of the San Gabriel River has officials concerned. "It's becoming very active now," explained Robert Brady, a Fire Information Officer with the Forest Service. He said there's more dry fuel for the blaze on that side of the river.

The fire was estimated to be 750 acres this morning, but that number will increase when authorities update the situation later today. Containment remains at 10 percent.

Voluntary evacuations were set in motion earlier this morning, but one of them at the privately held Camp Williams is now under a mandatory evacuation order, said Brady. Winds are pushing the fire in a north and northwestwardly direction, but no other structures appear to be in its path.

Few minor injuries have been reported and no cause has been determined yet. Temperatures in the area reached 99 degrees today with triple digits expected tomorrow. Both the San Gabriel Canyon Road and Glendora Mountain Road north of Azusa and Glendora are closed.