Red flag warning in effect, foothill communities remain on high alert
On Wednesday morning, Monrovia Fire Chief Brad Dover, along with Assistant City Manager Lauren Vasquez and other city officials, surveyed the area above Norumbega Drive to assess the Bobcat Fire’s progression, threat to the community and the potential for Santa Ana winds later in the day.
“We were up all last night and really concerned,” Dover said. “However, we’ve been pretty lucky with the winds and high humidity.”
Referring to the wind direction, which appears to be uphill in a south easterly direction (at least at 11 a.m. Wednesday), Dover said there are fixed wing aircraft ordered for the ridge attacks above Monrovia.
The Red Cross has opened an evacuation center at Santa Anita Park, located at 285 W. Huntington Dr. inside Gate 5.
The fire has scorched 11,456 acres and was 0% contained as of Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s fire information website.
A red flag warning is in place until 8 p.m. Wednesday. Forecasters are expecting widespread 20 to 30 miles per hour winds in many mountain areas, the National Weather Service stated.
As we progressed up Norumbega, coyotes were scattering, trying to avoid the smokey air from the fire.
