Twenty-nine structures were confirmed Monday to be destroyed or damaged in the 105,345-acre Bobcat Fire but the number could rise to 85.
“On Friday, on the 18th, we incurred structure loss … the fire came off of the Angeles National Forest down into the communities of Cima Mesa, Juniper Hills, Pearblossom, and Devil’s Punchbowl,” the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Vince Pena said Monday evening.
“We’re still currently aggressively assessing the damage from that.”
Information was not available regarding how many of the structures were homes. The assessment is expected to be completed by Wednesday.
The Nature Center at the Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area was burned by the fire, Los Angeles County parks officials said. The area is closed until further notice.
The Bobcat Fire, which is 15% contained, advanced again on Mount Wilson Monday while prompting fresh evacuation orders as officials worked to prevent the flames from spreading out of the Antelope Valley foothills.
Fire officials said that while the fire continues to burn below the Mount Wilson Observatory and was making “a hard push,” they are employing a variety of techniques to make sure key infrastructure is protected.
“The Bobcat Fire has picked up again and is making its way towards the northwest slope of the Mt. Wilson Drainage. Cal Fire is planning another strategic firing operation on the north/northwest slope of Mt. Wilson. Resources have made their way back to the lower parking lot,” Mount Wilson Observatory representatives wrote on Twitter.
The National Weather Service reported that winds near the observatory were blowing about 5-10 mph and relative humidity was at about 30%-35% Monday afternoon.
Two private drones being flown in the area late Monday morning prompted the 30-minute grounding of a fixed-wing aircraft and the diversion of other aircraft resources to the northwest part of the fire as a precaution, a fire official said.
There was no immediate word on who was operating the drones.
The U.S. Forest Service reported shortly before 2 p.m. that the aircraft was back in the air.
Evacuation orders were added Monday afternoon for residents south and west of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road; east of Angeles Forest Highway; and north of Angeles Crest (2) Highway, according to the sheriff’s department.
Evacuation orders remained in place for residents:
— along Angeles Crest Highway, between Angeles Forest Highway and Highway 39;
— in the unincorporated areas of Juniper Hills, Devils Punch Bowl, Paradise Springs, Crystal Lake, East Fork of the San Gabriel River, and Camp Williams;
— south of Highway 138, north of Big Rock Creek, east of 87th Street East, and west of Largo Vista Road;
— south of 138th Street East, north of Big Pine Highway and Highway 2, east of Largo Vista Road, and west of 263rd Street East; and
— south of Highway 138, north of East Avenue W-14, east of 155th Street East, and west of 165th Street East.
The following areas remained under evacuation warnings as of Monday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department:
— Pasadena;
— unincorporated communities of Altadena and Wrightwood;
— south of Pearblossom Highway, north of Angeles Forest Highway, north and west of Mount Emma Road, east and south of Highway 122, and west of Cheseboro Road;
— south of Highway 2, north of Blue Ridge Truck Trail, east of Highway 39, and west of the Los Angeles County border;
— south of Avenue U-8, north of East Avenue W-14, east of 121st East, and west of 155th Street East;
— south of Pearblossom Highway, south and east of Pearblossom Highway, north and west of Mt. Emma Road, north and east of Angeles Forest Highway, and west of Cheseboro Road; and
— south of Mount Emma Road, north of Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road, and west of Pacifico Mountain.
The Wrightwood area in San Bernardino County was also under an evacuation warning.
Officials said the fire continued to flare up around Mount Wilson, home not only one of the crown jewels of astronomy but also home to infrastructure that transmits cellphone signals and television and radio broadcasts for the greater Los Angeles Area, over the weekend. Once again, though, firefighters were able to protect the area from any damage.
A total of 1,718 personnel were assigned to the fire as of Monday afternoon.
A closure order has been issued for national forests in Southern California, including the Angeles National Forest.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health warned Sunday that air quality will be unhealthy through Monday for people in the East San Gabriel Valley and the San Gabriel Mountains. Residents were advised to limit their outdoor exposure as much as possible, and keep doors and windows closed.
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. Full containment is not expected until Oct. 30.