Colby fire east of Los Angeles is almost fully contained

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A firefighter starts a backfire along San Gabriel Canyon Road in Azusa as the Colby fire burns through brush in January. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter starts a backfire with a flare gun along San Gabriel Canyon Road in Azusa as the Colby fire burns through brush in January. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters hose down smoldering embers near a home on Pennsylvania Drive as fires continue to burn in Glendora. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters try to protect the main house as a fire burns a section of Singer Mansion on Kregmont Drive in Glendora. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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The Colby fire that broke out in Glendora, on the edge of the Angeles National Forest, exploded in size as dry brush, steep terrain and winds made for rough firefighting conditions. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Rita Abouchedid covers her face from heavy smoke as fire approaches her home on Kregmont Drive in Glendora. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Spectators watch as the Colby fire continues to burn on the edge of the Angeles National Forest in January. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Fire burns a section of Singer Mansion in Glendora as the Colby fire exploded in size Jan. 16. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Barbara Moser, right, hugs Rita Abouchedid, whose home was threatened by the fast-moving Colby fire in Glendora. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A statue of Jesus stands in the front yard as the Colby fire claims part of the Singer Mansion in Glendora. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters work to protect the main house as a fire burns a section of Singer Mansion in Glendora. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A large fire plume rises above the downtown skyline from the fast-growing Colby fire from the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

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A woman looks at a brush fire that was reported at about 6 a.m. north of Glendora, a foothill community about 30 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times )

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Glendora resident Cathy Doherty waits to be evacuated in the 500 block of Viewcrest Drive in Glendora as the Colby fire continues to burn. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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A brush fire broke out in January in the Angeles National Forest near Glendora. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A helicopter flies near the Colby fire burning in the Angeles National Forest. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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The Colby fire was reported at about 6 a.m. north of Glendora, a foothill community about 30 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A water-dropping helicopter flies over the Colby fire burning in the Angeles National Forest. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Smoke from the Colby fire in Glendora casts an eerie red glow in front of the rising sun in San Gabriel. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

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A police cruiser drives down Viewcrest Drive in Glendora urging residents to evacuate as the Colby fire burns in the Angeles National Forest. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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A large plume from the fast-growing Colby fire can be seen from as far away as Beverly Hills. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

By Ari Bloomekatz

Jan. 22, 2014 12:57 PM PT

The Colby fire that burned through the hills above Glendora and Azusa over the last week is 98% contained, officials said Wednesday.

The fire, allegedly sparked by an illegal campfire near Colby Trail and Glendora Mountain Road, began just before 6 a.m. Thursday and spread quickly in the steep terrain, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions.

Before long it had grown to more than 1,900 acres, destroyed five homes and damaged seven others, while forcing the evacuation of scores of nearby residents.

Fire officials called in more than a dozen aircraft to help and at times there were more than 1,100 fire personnel working to defeat the blaze.

On the same day the fire began, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it would provide funds to help the state fight the Colby fire.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to reimburse up to 75% of the eligible firefighting costs, according to the agency.

Meanwhile, health officials over the last several days have issued air quality warnings due to thick smoke from the blaze.

Authorities said the blaze started when a gust of wind blew embers from an illegal campfire out into tinder dry brush. Three men -- Clifford Eugene Henry, 22, of Glendora; Jonathan Carl Jarrell, 24, of Irwindale; and Steven Robert Aguirre, 21, described as a transient from Los Angeles -- have have been charged by federal prosecutors with illegally setting a campfire. They are expected to be arraigned Wednesday.

All three have admitted a role in the fire, according to a court affidavit. They could each face a five-year sentence if convicted of the felony offense.

Twitter: @aribloomekatz | Facebook

ari.bloomekatz@latimes.com

Colby fire east of Los Angeles is almost fully contained

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