Fire in Angeles National Forest

Glendora (myFOXla.com) - A brush fire that broke out this afternoon in the Angeles National Forest burned over 250 acres of trees and brush as darkness descended on the smoky San Gabriel Valley.

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The blaze broke out for unknown reasons at 4:42 p.m. at 9501 N. San Gabriel Canyon Road, near Morris Dam and Reservoir, on a day when the fire danger was rated as very high, said county fire Inspector Fred Stowers.

Some of the flames crossed over Highway 39 and were as high as 40 feet.

At one point, according to Deputy Lillian Peck, 18 Boy Scouts who were camping near "The Bridge to Nowhere" were rescued by sheriff's personnel.

Peck said that Los Angeles Sheriff's personnel from the San Dimas Station, the San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team, the Special Enforcement Bureau-Emergency Services Detail, Aero Bureau Air-5 and reserve forces of the Bureau-Mounted Rescue Team assisted with traffic control, and conducted foot sweeps of areas known to have campers.

Stowers said the county sent two water-dropping helicopters and a camp crew to the area. Fixed-wing aircraft were also dropping fire retardant on the flames.

As the clock closed in on 8 p.m., Lisa Lugo of the Angeles National Forest said 600 personnel were battling the 250-plus acre blaze.

"We have no idea when it will be contained," she said.

Normally fires are not fought from the air in the dark, but with darkness outside, Lugo said no one had yet said that the several fixed wing planes and helicopters were grounded.

Angie Lavell of the Angeles National Forest said the blaze -- dubbed the Morris Fire -- was burning on both sides of Highway 39.

She said the Forest Service assigned six air tankers, four helicopters and a helitanker to fight the fast-moving blaze. Two helicopters from the county fire department were also involved.

"On the east side, it is burning down to the reservoir, which is a good thing," Lavell said.

"On the other side, it is at the bottom of an uphill slope, so it will burn faster, further into the wilderness," she said.

No injuries were reported by authorities, although a cameraman on scene said he had video of people being treated and transported.

The winds were low, which should work in favor of the firefighters, who were traversing difficult terrain full of wildlife and rattlesnakes. 

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For more information on the Morris Fire go to www.inciweb.org.