330-acre Fork Fire in Angeles National Forest darkens sky over Southern California

A fire ignited in the East Fork area of the Angeles National Forest and rapidly grew on Friday afternoon, sending a plume of thick smoke into the air that could be seen from dozens of miles around.

The Fork Fire was first reported about 3:20 p.m. in the area of East Fork Road and Glendora Mountain Road near Camp Williams, according to U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE officials.

By 6:30 p.m., the flames had consumed more than 330 acres of forest and an evacuation order for the area was issued, officials said. The fire was making its way toward the Sheep Mountain Wilderness.

While recreational visitors were evacuated from the forest, no homes were under evacuation orders, according to Forest Service representatives. Recreational restrictions were expected to remain in place through the weekend, at a minimum.

The California Highway Patrol shut down East Fork Road between Glendora Mountain Road and Highway 39 as firefighters attacked the flames from both ground and air. No containment was reported.

More than 200 personnel battled the blaze Friday night, officials said. They included personnel from the Los Angeles and Ventura county fire departments, as well as CAL FIRE, the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Temperatures in the high-80s challenged firefighters, along with steep terrain, unstable conditions and southwest winds gusting at around 15 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

The cause was unclear.

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Check back for updates on this developing story.

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Fork Fire in Angeles Nat'l Forest darkens sky over Southern California