A brush fire erupted in the Angeles National Forest above Glendora Friday, putting up a large plume of smoke and spreading rapidly near popular camping and hiking areas.
The Fork Fire was reported around 3:30 p.m. in the area of Glendora Mountain and East Fork roads, initially estimated at about five to 10 acres. By 4 p.m., it was reported at 75 acres and went to a second alarm as more ground and air resources were dispatched to the scene.
By 5 p.m., reports from the scene estimated the fire had grown to 249 acres.
At the onset of the fire, crews on the scene requested medical teams to treat a young child with possible burn injuries and smoke inhalation, however, they later reported no patients at the scene. No other details were immediately available. Crews also requested air support to search for a group of juveniles who were seen in the area ahead of the fire.
The fire was burning near the Camp Williams Resort campground, increasing concern about people who may be in the area and also prompting an escalation of structure-protection work in the area. The flames were also in the general area of the popular Bridge to Nowhere trailhead.
Fire and law enforcement were evacuating people out of the area.
East Fork Road was closed from Highway 39 to Glendale Mountain Road.
The National Weather Service reported temperatures in the mid-80s near the fire with relatively light winds gusting to 12 mph.