Summit Fire sparks urgent warning as it spews toxic smoke, forces evacuations
A fast-moving wildfire in Los Angeles County has burned more than 2,600 acres as officials issued evacuation orders and smoke advisories for toxic air conditions.The Summit Fire continued to burn in the northern region of LA county near the San Bernardino County line in Antelope Valley on Saturday morning, officials said.LA County Health officials issued a smoke advisory for portions of the county due to the fire near Phelan, The advisory is in effect through 5 p.m.
Saturday.The National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert after South Coast AQMD advised “high elevation areas in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains including Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead” could see “harmful” air pollution levels.Residents in those areas should stay indoors if they see or smell smoke, officials said, and run an air conditioner or air purifier.If they believe the smoke is causing symptoms, they should go to their doctor or call 911 for life-threatening issues, officials added.Temperatures could be a factor in stoking the wildfire.
In Llano, where the blazes originated, temperatures are forecast to rise to a high of 102 degrees Saturday, according to AccuWeather.People in Zones LAC-E107 and LAC-E127-C are under evacuation orders and should leave immediately.Other residents in Zones LAC-E107-B, LAC-E126-A, LAC-E127-A, LAC-E127-B, LAC-E127-D, LAC-E128-A, and LAC-E1340 are under evacuation warnings and should pack essential belongings, keep an eye on emergency alerts, and be ready to leave if conditions worsen.Three zones in San Bernardino County — PIN006, PIN005, and WWD03 — are also under evacuation warnings.The Antelope Valley Family YMCA in Lancaster is serving as an evacuation shelter, and the Los Angeles County Animal Care Center-Palmdale is serving as a small animal shelter.The fire exploded over the course of Friday, growing from 309 acres to 1,600 acres in about 2.5 hours.Flames sadly scroched centuries-old Western Joshua trees, a culturally iconi...