Firefighters strengthened containment lines and kept an eye on the perimeter of the Bobcat fire as hot weather and Santa Ana winds moved into the area on Monday, Sept. 28.
By Monday evening, the Bobcat fire had devoured 114,202 acres and was 62% contained. On Sunday, it was reported to have burned 114,103 acres and was 65% contained.
The containment decreased due to the fire south of Barley Flats moving Sunday night, according to U.S. Forest Service spokesman Larry Smith, who is assigned to the Bobcat fire.
“It got a little wind Sunday,” he said.
Authorities issued a red-flag warning for Monday for the mountain areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties as well as the Santa Clarita Valley.
The warning expired by Monday evening, but the National Weather Service warned of continued hot, dry and breezy conditions.
Santa Ana winds between 30 and 40 mph were expected for the mountains above 4,000 feet and winds between 20 and 30 mph for the Santa Clarita Valley, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
A high pressure system led to hot temperatures Monday.
Woodland Hills hit a high of 103, Van Nuys 101, Pasadena hit 98, Burbank reached 97 and Lancaster hit 95, according to meteorologist Kristen Stewart.
She and Wofford said it will be hotter Tuesday.
On Monday, authorities focused on ground troops and aircraft, Smith said. Weather experts predicted the Santa Ana winds will be coming east-northeast, which means the fire will be pushed west-southwest, he said.
He said firefighters were sent to Barley Flats, San Gabriel Peak and Mount Lawlor.
They encountered gusts of 20 to 25 mph, Smith said.
Some of the islands, which are unburned areas within the boundaries, burned on Monday, according to Smith. But the Bobcat fire stayed within the containment, he added.
There were 1,363 firefighters, 27 hand crews, 14 helicopters, 119 engines, 13 bulldozers and 14 water tenders assigned to the Bobcat fire on Monday.
The Bobcat fire, which is the second-largest fire in Los Angeles County history, started in the Angeles National Forest on Sept. 6. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the fire.
The fire injured six people, destroyed 83 homes, damaged 28 homes and affected 4,214 people who either had to evacuate, shelter in place or end up in a temporary shelter, Smith said.
Authorities had lifted evacuation orders and warnings from several communities last week.
Evacuation orders remained in place for these areas:
• Paradise Springs – South of Big Pines Highway, east of Devil’s Punchbowl, west of Largo Vista Road, and north of the forest.
• South and west of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon, east of Angeles Forest Highway, and north of Angeles Crest Highway.
• Residences along Angeles Crest Highway, between Angeles Forest Highway and Highway 39.
Evacuation warnings continued for:
• South of Big Pines Highway, east of Largo Vista Road, west of 263rd Street E (County line), and north of the forest.
• South of Mount Emma Road, north of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon, east of Angeles Forest Highway, and west of Pacifico Mountain.
• East Fork Areas: Julius Klein Conservation Camp 19, Camp Williams, and the River Community.
• The community of Wrightwood.
Also Monday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District extended a smoke advisory through Tuesday afternoon because of smoke from the Bobcat fire.
“South Coast AQMD asks those who smell smoke or see ash to limit exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or to seek alternate shelter and avoid vigorous physical activity,” an agency statement said.
