The Colby fire continues to burn outside the communities of Glendora and Azusa, about 25 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, but officials announced Thursday evening that the fire’s forward spread had stopped. Some evacuation orders remain in effect as firefighters hope to take advantage of calmer winds Friday.
The fire caught sometime before dawn Thursday morning and had burned 1,709 acres by Thursday night, consuming five residences as well as other structures. The fire is named for a trail where it is believed to have started.
Three men were arrested in connection with the fire Thursday. Glendora police accused them of starting a campfire that quickly spread out of control, according to the Los Angeles Times.
About 3,600 people were evacuated Thursday, but about half of them have been allowed to return to their homes. The perimeter of the fire is 30 percent contained, according to data from the Forest Service. Several hundred firefighters are working to contain the flames.
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning through this evening for the Sierra Nevada and the coast of Southern California as far as the Mexican border, indicating a high risk of fire. The service cited unseasonably warm and dry weather at the end of an unusually arid year that has desiccated fuels in the state’s wildlands.
Humidity could fall as low as 3 percent in Los Angeles on Friday, and forecasters anticipate gusts of 40 mph in the valleys. The temperature is expected to reach 84 degrees.
Visit this page for the latest official information on the fire.
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