8/14 Update:
Due the actively burning Lake Fire near the Lake Hughes community, Angeles National Forest officials signed a closure order restricting public access for public safety and resource protection. Closure 05-01-20-06 was signed Aug. 13, and will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2020.
“For the safety of our firefighters and our firefighters, we must close this section of the Angeles National Forest for a time,” said Rachel Smith, Angeles National Forest Deputy Forest Supervisor. Once full containment on the Lake Fire is achieved, the order will give the Burned Area Emergency Response Team (BAER) a chance to reduce erosion, flooding, and mudslide potential.”
“Closing an area is never an easy choice. However, it is our responsibility to continue to protect our communities before and after the fire as well as heal the land as quickly as possible,” Smith explained.
Cottonwood, Spunky Canyon, and Sawmill-Liebre campgrounds are within the closure area. Additionally, a small section of the Pacific Crest Trail will be affected by this order. A copy of the closure order and map can be found on the Angeles National Forest’s Alerts and Notices webpage.
8/13
Yesterday at 3:40 P.M., Angeles National Forest firefighters with assistance from Los Angeles County Fire responded with a first-alarm response to a report of a brush fire near Lake Hughes Rd. and Pine Canyon Rd.
Upon arrival, they reported a 50-acre fire with a rapid rate of spread – showing extreme fire behavior. Responders ordered a second alarm as the fire was growing rapidly towards the Northeast. Within an hour, the fire quickly grew to 6,000 acres and shortly after 10,000 acres with zero containment.
The cause remains under investigation. Overnight, the fire grew to 10,500 acres with zero containment.
Today, over 1,000 firefighters from the Forest Service, Los Angeles County Fire, and several local municipal fire agencies are working to contain the Lake Fire. Crews will be facing steep terrain with fuels that haven’t burned since 1968. Additionally, they will face hot and humid temperatures transitioning into an excessive heat warning and critical fire weather conditions starting Friday through Monday.
Evacuations: The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has issued mandatory evacuations for residents: •East of Ridge Route Rd•West of Lake Hughes Rd•North of Pine Canyon and Lake Hughes Rd•South of CA-HWY 138 An evacuation center has been setup by the Red Cross at Highland High School, 39055 25th Street West, Palmdale, CA 93551Road Closures: The following roads have been closed due to the Lake Fire:•San Francisquito Cyn Rd. from Stater Lane to Spunky Cyn Rd. •Three Points Rd from CA-Hwy 138 to Pine Cyn Rd. •Old Ridge Route Rd from HWY 138 to Pine Cyn Rd. •Lake Hughes Rd. from Old Ridge Route to Pine Cyn Rd
