Williams Fire Closes Highway 39, Burns Nearly 4000 acres of Chaparrel

Williams Fire Closes Highway 39, Burns Nearly 4000 plus acres of Chaparrel
Monrovia and other local Fire Agencies Assisting in Massive Firefighting Effort
By Terry Miller

Good progress was made Sunday and Labor Day fighting a large wildfire coined the WilliamsFire, according to the Forest Service on Tuesday. However, estimated time of containment is Thursday Sept. 13.
The Williams Fire – dubbed after the mobile home park near where it started – was described as “moving very slowly” Monday evening. It is burning west of Mount Baldy and southeast of Highway 2.
Evacuations of Camp Williams and San Gabriel Canyon were completed in record time, however, 25 people elected to stay despite the evacuation order. Highway 39 remains closed at press time. Firefighting Resources include 4 Air Tankers, 10 Helicopters.40 engines,8 dozer, 24 hand crews and 5 water tenders.Monrovia Firefighters Brad Dover and Andy McDaniel are manning the water tender requested from Monrovia Fire Dept to assist in the firefighting effort according to Dave Rapp of the Monrovia Firefighters’ Association. The Monrovia Firefighters are working 12 hour shifts in an effort to contain the fire which officials estimate could be Thursday.
Firefighters were hitting the blaze hard from the air with tankers and helicoptersas well as the ground. Approximately 700 personnel were fighting the fire Monday night, with 30 engines on the scene. Nearly 50 hand crews and dozers were also on the lines Monday night.
The fire is in medium to heavy brush which is extremely dry and mostly Chaparral, brush and mixed conifers.The fuels supporting this fire are approximately 15 to 20 years old.Firefighters will continue line construction and holding existing lines. Areas will be scouted for opportunities to engage. Structure protection in the Camp Williams area will also be conducted.Origin of Fire is about half-way between Camp Williams and the Shooting Range along East Fork Road in San Gabriel Canyon, North of Azusa about 3 1/2 miles east of Highway 39..Thursday September 13th, 2012 approx. 12:00 AM estimated containment.
The cause of the fire is believed to be from a vehicle which caught fire and quickly ignited nearby chaparrel.

Photos by Terry Miller

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