On Thursday, July 18, 2013, at 6:00 p.m., Arcadia Firefighters responded to a reported brush fire in the Peck Road Water Conservation Park, 5401 N. Peck Road, Arcadia. Upon arrival, Arcadia Fire Battalion Chief Mike Lang reported a ½ acre brush fire burning freely in the basin. Firefighters immediately began suppression and search and rescue operations.
High temperatures, low humidity, and dry conditions, contributed to the rapid growth of the fire, which quickly encompassed three acres. Approximately 100 firefighters from Arcadia, Monrovia and Los Angeles County Fire Departments joined forces to battle the blaze, including air support and hand crews from Los Angeles County.
The fire was subdued within two hours and completely extinguished before midnight. No loss of life or property was sustained.
Although the exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, Fire Investigators identified the origin of the fire to be in a homeless encampment in the gravel pit.