Colby fire northeast of Los Angeles prompts air-quality alert

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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 Jason Wells and Ari Bloomekatz

Jan. 17, 2014 11:56 AM PT

Los Angeles County public health officials on Friday issued an air-quality alert as crews continued to fight the Colby fire, which has displaced roughly 2,000 people in Azusa affected by mandatory evacuation orders.

The fire, which started early Thursday above neighboring Glendora, has so far consumed 1,709 acres and destroyed five homes, officials said. Crews were able to hold fire-break lines overnight, stopping the forward progress of the blaze and keeping containment at 30%.

But Azusa Police Lt. Paul Dennis said mandatory evacuation orders for those living north of Sierra Madre Avenue and east of Azusa Avenue would remain in place indefinitely, saying the situation remained extremely dangerous. He also cited the dangers of loosened rocks that were falling onto Highway 39.

“It’s unsafe,” he told reporters.

PHOTOS: Colby fire in Glendora

More than 1,000 firefighters were battling the fire Friday, which forecasters said would see calmer winds. The main goal was to increase containment of the blaze, which officials said was sparked by an illegal campfire.

“Overall, we had much success with the weather giving us the opportunity to fight aggressively and make a stand,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Keith Mora said.

Mora said nine helicopters and two fixed-wing aircraft were helping to douse the flames. Bulldozers were also reinforcing and cutting containment lines around the blaze.

The fire broke out along Glendora Mountain Road by the Colby truck trail and was initially fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, sending a huge plume of smoke and ash into the air.

L.A. County public health officials, meanwhile, also warned that the fire had created unhealthy air-quality conditions Friday for residents in the San Gabriel Valley and Pomona.

In areas where there is an odor of smoke or where it’s visible, the public is urged to avoid “unnecessary” outdoor activities. Schools in smoke-affected areas were also urged to suspend outside physical activities for students, including physical education and after-school sports, until conditions improve.

The warning extends for people with heart disease, asthma or other respiratory disease throughout Los Angeles County.

“It is difficult to tell where ash or soot from a wildfire will go, or how winds will affect the level of dust particles in the air, so we ask all individuals to be aware of their immediate environment and how it might affect their health,” Public Health Director Jonathan Fielding said in a statement.

Colby fire northeast of Los Angeles prompts air-quality alert

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