Ranch Fire Prompts Prompts Evacuations In Azusa Canyon Area, Spreads to 2,500 Acres

This story was last updated at 9:10 p.m. We will bring you more coverage in the morning.

A brush fire near Asuza has spread to more than 3,000 acres tonight, prompting evacuations that began this afternoon.

The Ranch Fire was reported at 2:45 p.m. in the Azusa Canyon area near North San Gabriel Canyon Road and North Ranch Road, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Almost immediately, it was threatening homes.

Residents of Mountain Cove were asked to evacuate immediately, and no traffic is being allowed into the area, according to the Azusa Police Department.

By about 4:30 p.m., the Ranch Fire had grown to about 600 acres but county fire officials at that point said the fire was burning away from the foothill cities and into Angeles National Forest.

Authorities reported the fire had spread to about 3,000 acres by shortly after 8 p.m., pushing further into the forest and away from homes, in steep, rocky terrain. There have not been any injuries reported or damages to structures yet, according to the L.A. County Fire Dept.

Road closures remain.

Firehawk helicopters were being used to assist in the attack, according to L.A. County's Fire Air Ops.

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The Ranch Fire was the second to prompt evacuations in L.A. County in as many days, following the Lake Fire, which exploded to roughly 10,000 acres in its first day.

Here's what the scene looked like at about 5:30 p.m.:

EVACUATIONS

• Mountain Cove community is under evacuation.

EVACUATION SHELTER

• Azusa Pacific University: 701 E. Foothill Blvd, Azusa, CA

CLOSURES:

• State Route 39 (northbound) at Sierra Madre Avenue
• State Route 39 (southbound) at East Fork Road

MORE SOCAL FIRE COVERAGE:

• Lake Fire Updates: What We Know So Far As The Wildfire Grows In Lake Hughes
• Is it Really Time For Wildfires Already?

FIRE RESOURCES

• Every Day Is Fire Season. Here's How Angelenos Can Prepare Right Now
• How To Find Out About Fire Evacuations In Your Area
• How To Keep Yourself Safe From Wildfire Smoke
• The Air Is Brown — Should I Wear A Mask?
• This Is Why Fire Officials Don't Want You To Stay And Defend Your Home
• What Does 'Containment' Of A Fire Mean, Exactly?
• What Does A 'Red Flag Warning' Mean, Exactly?
• What To Do — And Not Do — When You Get Home After A Wildfire

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