From City News Service
A fire scorched about 1,700 acres today in the Angeles National Forest north of Glendora, prompting some mandatory evacuations in Glendora and Azusa and the closures of several schools and a community college, authorities said.
Three people have been detained, two by Glendora police, one by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies, NBC4 reported.
The blaze -- dubbed the Colby Fire -- was reported about 5:50 a.m. near San Gabriel Canyon Road, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Three helicopters were initially sent to the scene, along with a number of firefighting ground crews.
Two SuperScooper aircraft later were sent, with water drops beginning after 8 a.m. About 550 firefighters have been deployed in the firefighting effort.
At least three homes were among five structures in the upscale neighborhood that have been damaged by the flames, according to broadcast reports.
Smoke from the fire was seen as far away as Orange County, reports said.
Shortly after 7 a.m., evacuations were ordered in Glendora for an area north of Sierra Madre Avenue, from Grand Avenue to Glendora Mountain Road, according to the Glendora Police Department.
About an hour later, the western boundary of the evacuation area was expanded to Azusa Avenue in Azusa, Azusa Police Department officials said.
An evacuation center was established at Finkbiner Park, near Foothill Boulevard and Grand Avenue in Glendora.
Evacuated pets can be brought to the Pasadena Humane Society at 361 S. Raymond Ave, according to the humane society.
A shelter for evacuated horses was set up at the Fairplex, Gate 12, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., in Pomona.
School closures in Glendora included Cullen, La Fetra and Sellers elementary schools; and Goddard and Sandburg middle schools. Parents were urged to go to those schools and pick up their children.
Goddard Middle School at 859 E. Sierra Madre Ave. was designated to serve as the unified command post, according to the Glendora Unified School District.
Citrus College in Glendora was closed today because of the fire, said college spokeswoman Paula Green. She urged students and staff to keep track of developments affecting the school by checking the website at www.citruscollege.edu.
Also closed was St. Lucy's Priory High School.
Glendora Mountain Road was closed, and traffic was slowing on the westbound Foothill (210) Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Los Angeles County fire officials are putting out public information about evacuations, closings and news related to the wildfire in Glendora via the Twitter handle LACountyCEO.
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