San Gabriel Complex Fire: Evacuations Lifted, Containment at 30 percent

Duarte, CA — Hundreds residents evacuated from the San Gabriel Complex Fire may now return home, officials said.

The evacuation order was lifted Friday morning and residents can start returning home at noon, police said.

"For any residents of Camp Williams and any other community in the canyon, we ask you to use Glendora Mountain Road," police said in a statement. "Highway 39 will remain closed and the canyon will remain closed for recreation but will allow residents to return home."

Residents will need to show their identifications and only small pets are allowed back in at this time, police said. Horses and other farm animals will be allowed back Saturday starting at 8 a.m..

The fire, which has burned a combined 5,267 acres, was 30 percent contained Friday morning. The Reservoir Fire was holding steady at 1,200 acres charred and the Fish Fire grew to 4,067 over night. Both fire, though about 2 miles apart, are collectively known as the San Gabriel Complex Fire.

Early Friday morning, Sierra Madre Police Department closed the Chantry Flats Recreational Area because for danger from the fires.

"Enforcement realizes that this is a very popular area, especially during the weekends, however for the public's and the community's safety we must ask that you be diligent in remaining out of the area," police said.

The Los Angeles County Public Health Department has issued a Boil Water order for residents in Azusa Canyon, except for Camp Williams, because of a power outage that affected the water distribution systems.

Residents need leave the water at a rolling boil for one minute before use.

The initial fire, dubbed the Reservoir Fire, started Monday when a pickup truck crashed off Highway 39 near Morris Dam and started a brush fire. The driver was killed in the crash and ensuing fire. The fire quickly grew to more than 1,200 acres in a matter of hours.

The fire was burning uphill in extremely steep terrain with heavy vegetation, Garcia said.

About 90 minutes later, another fire, dubbed the Fish Fire, started above Duarte, near homes. That fire quickly grew to more than 3,000 acres.