Chaparral fire prompts evacuation of 9 hikers
Nine hikers were evacuated by helicopter Sunday afternoon after a chaparral fire broke out below them at the edge of the Angeles National Forest, authorities said.
Authorities said perhaps 40 to 70 more hikers and campers were evacuated on foot from the popular recreational area after the fire was reported at 1:18 p.m. north of Loma Alta Drive at Lake Avenue.
The fire charred 12 acres of steep terrain before its main area was under control about 4:40 p.m. Full containment was reported at 8 p.m.
At the peak of the blaze, about 220 firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service, aided by five water-dropping helicopters, were on the scene.
Officials said the cause of the fire was under investigation. One firefighter suffered minor burns to one of his hands.
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