Residents experience stinging eyes and reduced visibility due to local fires.

By Mary O’KEEFE

The Bobcat Fire continues to add to the smoke-filled skies above Crescenta Valley, Glendale and nearby foothill communities. As of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the Bobcat Fire has burned about 44,393 acres and is 3% contained. The fire had been at 6% contained earlier; however, as it spread the containment level lessened.

There are 1,158 personnel on the Bobcat Fire who are focusing their efforts to hold onto the accomplishments over the last few days, especially in the vicinities of the foothill communities and Mt. Wilson Observatory. Firefighters will be working on increasing the gap between firefighters and the blaze while looking for opportunities to attack the fire directly, according to Inciweb.

Crews had focused a lot of effort on the Mt. Wilson Observatory and were successful in keeping the fire from damaging the facility.

“Mt. Wilson is far less [in danger] than previously,” said Andrew Mitchell, spokesman for U.S. Forest Service, Angeles National Forest.

There are four to five water dropping aircraft, both fixed wing and helicopters, that were battling the fire on Wednesday.

Evacuation orders were lifted for residents in the East Fork area, including Camp Williams and the River Community Center. 

On Sept. 16, the City of Arcadia announced mandatory evacuation orders had been lifted for all residents north of Elkins Avenue and east of Santa Anita Avenue as of 4 p.m. However, only residents with valid identification will be allowed back into the area.

Estimates are that full containment will be obtained by Oct. 30.

According to Inciweb, as of Tuesday an evacuation order had been issued for residents within the area north of Angeles Crest North and between Clear Creek Station and Hwy 39.

Evacuation warnings were in place for residents north of Foothill Boulevard and east of Santa Anita Avenue as well as the foothill communities of Monrovia, Bradbury, Sierra Madre, Altadena, Duarte and Pasadena.

In the local area the greatest effect of the Bobcat Fire is the smoke. Smoke advisories have been issued throughout the week and, as of Wednesday, were extended to today, Thursday.

“Two major local wildfires as well as wildfires in northern and central California are affecting the air quality in the region,” according to a statement from South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).

The fires nearby that are affecting air quality are the Bobcat Fire and the El Dorado Fire, which is burning in the San Bernardino Mountains near Yucaipa.

As of Wednesday at 5 p.m. the air quality in the Crescenta Valley/Glendale area of East San Gabriel Valley was categorized as unhealthy with an Air Quality Index at 164 out of 500. This means that people may begin to experience health effects when AQI values are between 151 and 200. Members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects, according to the South Coast AQMD.

Both fires produced substantial amounts of smoke on Tuesday morning. Falling ash was reported downwind of the Bobcat Fire throughout the South Coast Air Basin, according to South Coast AQMD.

The smoke on Wednesday moved northeast and east into the mountains due to onshore winds.

AQMD shared tips on its website for those areas experiencing unhealthy air quality conditions: residents should remain indoors with windows and doors closed or seek alternative shelter; avoid vigorous physical activity; run the air conditioner if possible and make sure the filters are clean; create a clean air space in their home by using a portable air cleaner instead of or in addition to the air conditioner; avoid using a whole-house fan or swamp cooler with an outside air intake; and avoid using indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances like fireplaces and candles.

For more information on the Bobcat Fire, visit inciweb.nwcg.gov and for air quality, visit aqmd.gov.

  Charly Shelton, Mary Okeefe