Fire burning in the San Gabriel Mountains threatens Mt. Wilson Observatory

An air tanker drops fire retardant over the Mt. Wilson Observatory as firefighters worked to extinguish a fire in the Angeles National Forest.

An air tanker drops fire retardant over the Mt. Wilson Observatory as firefighters worked to extinguish a fire in the Angeles National Forest.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times )

Oct. 17, 2017 11:46 AM PT

Authorities evacuated at least a dozen people from Mt. Wilson as a wildfire threatened the historic mountaintop observatory and an array of television broadcast towers.

Fire near Mt. Wilson Observatory

Firefighters cut a path through charred terrain as they work to extinguish a fire that broke out before dawn in the Angeles National Forest.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Fire near Mt. Wilson Observatory

A helicopter makes a water drop on a fire near the Mt. Wilson Observatory in the Angeles National Forest northeast of Los Angeles.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Fire near Mt. Wilson Observatory

Firefighters prepare to take on a blaze fire that broke out before dawn in the Angeles National Forest.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Fire near Mt. Wilson Observatory

A view of downtown Los Angeles through smoke and charred terrain in the Angeles National Forest.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Fire near Mt. Wilson Observatory

A helicopter makes a water drop in the Angeles National Forest northeast of Los Angeles.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Fire near Mt. Wilson Observatory

A plane drops fire retardant near the Mt. Wilson Observatory.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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