Mandatory Evacuation Due to Morris Fire

Glendora (myFOXla.com) - A mandatory evacuation order was in place Wednesday for the Camp Williams area in the Angeles National Forest, where a 750-acre wildfire continued raging over bone-dry vegetation.

You can watch Jeff Michael's report in the video player.

The so-called Morris Fire, which broke out late Tuesday afternoon, scorched 750 acres and was 10 percent contained, said Bruce Quintelier of the Angeles National Forest.

Someone apparently sparked the blaze, which raged on both sides of San Gabriel Canyon Road, according to an operations dispatcher, who declined to say whether investigators think the blaze was accidental or intentional. The cause of the fire was listed as "under investigation."

Forest Service personnel said they could not predict when the fire will be contained.

Voluntary evacuations had been in effect for the Camp Williams area on East Fork Road, which includes a mobile home park and a cafe, but the evacuation order became mandatory about 1 p.m., Quintelier said.

The mandatory evacuation order was made because a "spot fire" that flared up on the east side of Highway 39 had grown in size, Quintelier said.

A voluntary evacuation was in effect for Rainbow Ranch, a horse-boarding facility in the forest, Quintelier said. There was also concern for isolated ranger, fire and campground structures.

Quintelier said 822 firefighting personnel were assigned to the scene, along with several water-dropping helicopters.

Asserting that conditions had created "explosive fire growth potential," the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the mountains of Southern California, a vast stretch of real estate encompassing the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County and the Los Padres National Forest in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.

The warning went into effect at 6 a.m. and will be in effect until 9 p.m. Friday.

Officials with the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory in some areas, and warned people to be cautious and avoid unnecessary outdoor activities.

The blaze was reported at 4:42 p.m. Tuesday 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 Los Angeles County fire Inspector Fred Stowers.

As the fire took off, flames up to 40 feet high crossed over Highway 39. A news helicopter crew captured footage of a vehicle suddenly consumed by flames and people running from the area, which is popular with motorcyclists and campers. The Sheriff's Department sent deputies to help evacuate them.

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