Colby Fire chars 1,709 acres, 2 homes destroyed – 3 men arrested

Colby Fire chars 1,709 acres, 2 homes destroyed – 3 men arrested
Firefighters from the L.A. County Fire Department along with officers from the Glendora Police Department responded to an early morning wildfire Thursday that grew quickly to a massive inferno in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa and Glendora. At 6:34 am., a Glendora Police Officer detained two subjects running in a flood control wash channel in the 800 block of E. Palm Ave. U.S. Forestry contacted a third subject in the area of Glendora Mountain Road and Colby Trail around 8:37 am. All three subjects were arrested and booked at the Glendora Police Department with the charges of 452(c) PC – Unlawfully causing a fire of a structure or forest land, a felony with a bail of $20,000.
Three men were being held in jail on suspicion of recklessly starting the Colby Fire in lieu of $20,000 bail each by the Glendora Police Department, Chief Tim Staab said at a Thursday morning news conference.

The three suspects were identified as Clifford Henry, Jr, 22, of Glendora; Jonathan Jarrell, 23, of Irwindale; and Steven Aguirre, 21, a transient.
The brush fire broke out in the Angeles National Forest. The fire moved into the Los Angeles County area of Glendora. The Colby Fire has burned approximately 1,700 acres and 0 percent containment on Thursday afternoon. The Los Angeles County Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) was lifted to level 3.

At one point all internet access was out for Glendora City departments including the Police.
Historic Singer mansion in Glendora was destroyed by the fast moving early morning fire.
Fire officials said they were cautiously optimistic that evacuees could be let back into their homes soon. Fierce winds had shifted direction by 11 a.m., causing the fire to move in a northwesterly direction away from the homes.
L.A. County firefighters were concerned about the fire’s spreading into San Gabriel Canyon and Fish Canyon in Duarte, just north of Foothill Boulevard.
As a result, some Duarte residents, as well as all Bradbury residents were subject to mandatory evacuations, according to a county sheriff’s department written release.
Also lost in the fire was a flag on top of one of the hills. Fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, as well as two Super Scoopers battled flames Thursday. About 600 firefighters from numerous agencies battled the wildfire .
Evacuated pets were taken to the Pasadena Humane Society, 361 S. Raymond Ave. A shelter for horses was set up at the Fairplex in Pomona.
Staab said police believe the three set a campfire and were tossing papers into the fire when a breeze kicked up and ignited the larger blaze in the foothills. Staab said he was told by detectives that “One [suspect] had made an admission to our detectives and admitted to starting this fire.” That suspect was apologetic, Staab said.
The suspects were cooperative, Staab said. One civilian suffered minor burns in the fire Thursday, according to L.A. County Fire, but no firefighters were injured.
The huge smoke plume from the fire spread across greater L.A. and out to sea Thursday morning, but the Federal Aviation Administration says it is not affecting air traffic, the Associated Press
Air quality officials are warning residents downwind of the fire to take precautions.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District called smoke production from the fire “high” and said the areas scorched by the fire and communities in the path of prevailing winds could experience “unhealthy” air quality.

AQMD says communities particularly affected are the eastern and southern portions of the San Gabriel Valley, Pomona and Walnut Valley.

Azusa Police have ordered mandatory evacuations of a couple hundred homes including everything north of Sierra Madre Boulevard and east of Highway 39 and Azusa Avenue. The community of Mountain Cove, up in the foothills at the top of Azusa Avenue, were also evacuated.

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