Bobcat Fire Moves Closer To Homes, Mount Wilson Observatory

Nicole Charky
Updated ·8 min read

MONROVIA, CA —Firefighters battling the Bobcat Fire suffered a setback Tuesday when the extent of the fire's containment shrank from 6% to 3%, and they struggled to protect the infrastructure at Mt. Wilson Observatory as flames crept closer to broadcast towers valued at more than a billion dollars.

Meanwhile, a 500- to 1,000-acre spot fire crossed Angeles Crest (2) Highway, and crews were "actively engaged in suppressing it," according to the U.S. Forest Service.

On Tuesday morning, the fire's size increased to 41,231 acres with 3% containment, down from 6% the previous day, according to the Angeles National Forest.

At 12:31 p.m. Tuesday, the ANF tweeted: "The #BobcatFire is within 500 ft of the Mt. Wilson Observatory & crews are in place ready to receive the fire. Strategic firing is taking place in the south where air operations are strengthening dozerlines. Crews are working a spot fire that crossed Hwy 2 near Buckhorn."

Observatory personnel were evacuated. Mount Wilson is home to infrastructure that transmits cell-phone signals and television and radio broadcasting for the greater Los Angeles Area.

Tuesday's primary focus for firefighters was keeping the fire from reaching Mt. Wilson and the foothill communities to the south. Evacuation warnings remained in place in Pasadena, Altadena, Monrovia, Bradbury, Sierra Madre and Duarte.

RELATED: Bobcat Fire: Air Quality Compromised Throughout LA County

An evacuation order for Sierra Madre and Arcadia residents in an area north of Elkins Avenue and east of Santa Anita Avenue remained in effect for Arcadia residents and "until further notice," for Sierra Madre, officials said. The area includes parts of both cities.

The Arcadia Fire Department reported that 267 Arcadia homes had been evacuated, and said crews were "very successful and productive in keeping the fire front away from Arcadia homes. No homes have been damaged or impacted by fire. The evacuation order is still in effect."

Sierra Madre police said 32 homes were affected by the evacuation order in their city, where the City Council unanimously approved a declaration of a state of emergency on Sunday.

Santa Anita's opening day of autumn season is pushed back a week until Sept. 25 due to the impact of the massive Bobcat Fire on air quality and the surrounding community, the operators of the racetrack announced Monday.

The racetrack is serving as a Red Cross evacuation site for Arcadia residents under mandatory evacuation orders. Residents were advised to enter through Gate 5. More information about the center is available at 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767).

Pasadena officials urged residents to be ready to leave at a moment's notice, while officials from multiple foothill communities reminded residents that it is illegal to fly drones over the fire area.

The Pasadena Humane Society said animal control workers would be stationed at the Red Cross evacuation zone to assist with the transport of displaced pets back to the Pasadena Humane shelter.

Evacuation orders were lifted for the East Fork area, including Camp Williams, the River Community Center and Fire Camp 19, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. Residents and business owners on East Fork Road between Highway 39 and Glendora Mountain Road were permitted to enter through Glendora Mountain Road in Glendora starting at 4 p.m.

All roads leading into San Gabriel Canyon are closed. Highway 39 is closed north of Azusa to SR 2, which is closed between Upper Tujunga to Big Pines. Upper Big Tujunga Road is closed between SR 2 and Angeles Forest Highway. Chantry Flat Road is closed. Mt. Wilson Road is closed from SR 2 to Mt Wilson.

The abnormally dry vegetation has been fueling the blaze, leading to extreme fire behavior and rapid rates of spread.

Full containment of the fire, which will be achieved by way of cleared vegetation, was not estimated until Oct. 30, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Officials had earlier estimated full containment by Oct. 15 but revised that date on Sunday.

A closure order for all National Forests in Southern California was extended to Sept. 21.

The fire crossed the contingency line Monday afternoon and started burning on the ridge line above the east side of Little Santa Anita Canyon, the U.S. Forest Service reported.

Some 1,091 firefighting personnel were engaged in the effort by Tuesday afternoon. A secondary priority Tuesday was keeping the fire south of Highway 2.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended its smoke advisory through Wednesday for most areas of Los Angeles County, even the coasts.

The Los Angeles Zoo, which closed Sunday due to poor air quality and had hoped to reopen on Tuesday, said it would remain closed through Wednesday.

County officials also said three COVID-19 testing sites would be closed Wednesday -- at the Pomona Fairplex, the San Gabriel Valley Airport and in Panorama City.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said she has signed a proclamation declaring a local emergency in the county because of the fire and requested a state proclamation. The proclamation will be subject to a ratification vote at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting.

The Bobcat Fire erupted on Sept. 6 near the Cogswell Dam and West Fork Day Use area northeast of Mount Wilson and within the Angeles National Forest. The cause remains under investigation.

"Strategic firing operations (backfires being set by firefighters) are taking place to protect the infrastructure around Mt. Wilson," the Angeles National Forest tweeted late Monday night

"Firefighters are taking advantage of favorable weather conditions. Crews and equipment will be staffing the Bobcat Fire" through the early morning hours.

The fire was moving "in the general direction of Mt. Wilson where it could possibly threaten the historic Observatory and broadcast towers worth over a billion dollars," KNX 1070's Pete Demetriou tweeted about 10:15 p.m. Monday.

"The Bobcat Fire is knocking on our door," Mount Wilson Observatory tweeted about 9:25 p.m. Monday. "Fire officials predicted that the fire would approach Mt. Wilson from Echo Rock. It looks like they are correct."

All observatory personnel have been evacuated. Fire engines were in place near the observatory to try to protect it, the U.S. Forest Service said.

But it appears someone remained. About 7:35 a.m. Tuesday, the observatory tweeted: "The observatory boundaries are still secure at this time and we have 12 companies of professionals from @LACOFD intending to keep it that way. It's shaping up to be a good day for aerial action, too."

The Arcadia Fire Department announced crews were "very successful and productive in keeping the fire front away from Arcadia homes. No homes have been damaged or impacted by fire. The evacuation order is still in effect."

The fire crossed the contingency line Monday afternoon and started burning on the ridge line above the east side of Little Santa Anita Canyon, the U.S. Forest Service reported.

Residents of Monrovia, Bradbury, Altadena, Duarte, Pasadena and other San Gabriel Valley areas were advised to be ready to evacuate if flames spread their way.

An evacuation order was issued for Camp Williams in the San Gabriel Mountains in Azusa. The property includes a campground, mobile home park, cafe and general store on the East Fork of the San Gabriel River.

Sunday's evacuation order for Sierra Madre and Arcadia residents in an area north of Elkins Avenue and east of Santa Anita Avenue remained in effect for Arcadia residents and "until further notice," for Sierra Madre, officials said. The area includes parts of both cities.

The Arcadia Fire Department reported that 267 Arcadia homes had been evacuated.

Sierra Madre police said 32 homes were affected by the evacuation order in their city, where the City Council unanimously approved a declaration of a state of emergency on Sunday.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended its smoke advisory through Tuesday afternoon for portions of Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside counties, and the National Weather Service reported that a southeast upper level wind flow was pushing considerable smoke toward the Santa Clarita Valley, Acton and Antelope Valley on Monday afternoon.

The Los Angeles Zoo, which closed Sunday due to poor air quality and had hoped to reopen on Tuesday, said it would remain closed through Wednesday.

The Bobcat Fire erupted on Sept. 6 near the Cogswell Dam and West Fork Day Use area northeast of Mount Wilson and within the Angeles National Forest. The cause remains under investigation.

- City News Service and Patch Editor Nicole Charky contributed to this report.

See more:

This article originally appeared on the Los Angeles Patch