Firebreak Burned to Guard Town From Blaze

WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. — A more than 9,000-acre wildfire crackled through decades-old growth Saturday in Angeles National Forest, as firefighters put up precautionary lines of defense between the blaze and this mountain town.

The fire, one of several big ones in the West, did not pose an immediate threat to Wrightwood, about four miles away, but firefighters were taking no chances.

Eighty-one engines were deployed in town, a 1,500-foot-wide firebreak was burned along a ridge, and a 3 1/2-mile pipeline with sprinklers was being built to water down vegetation. Containment was estimated at 32%.

“This is strictly precautionary,” said U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman Linda Christman.

There were no plans to evacuate the 4,000 residents from the San Gabriel Mountains community.

Other Southern California firefighters contained a 1,200-acre blaze in the San Bernardino County city of Loma Linda late Friday.

The Angeles National Forest blaze, dubbed the Narrows Fire, was also being battled by 10 air tankers, 21 helicopters and 1,710 firefighters. Only five minor injuries had occurred since it began.

Despite loss of the weekend visitor trade due to closure of roads, campgrounds and trails, some businesses were reporting satisfactory sales.

Wrightwood Mobil accepted government credit cards and was busy fueling emergency vehicles.

“We’re getting Highway Patrol, the Forest Service and, from time to time, we’re getting firetrucks to buy diesel,” said service advisor Steve Klose.

At Mountain Hardware, Michael Lee Ogborn said residents were coming in for routine weekend project materials despite the fire a few miles in the distance.

“They aren’t even letting it affect their life. They’re still doing painting and sealing,” Ogborn said.

The blaze began Wednesday in the East Fork of San Gabriel Canyon, within the Sheep Mountain Wilderness area northeast of Azusa. The Forest Service said it started when a camper burned toilet paper instead of burying it.

The area had not burned since 1953, and the fire threatened sensitive animal habitat and watershed, increasing the potential for erosion and flooding after winter storms.