Fire Erupts in Angeles National Forest

Los Angeles County and federal fire crews were battling the Burro Fire in the Angeles National Forest on Monday after the blaze broke out in steep terrain near Burro Peak above the San Gabriel Valley. CAL FIRE listed the fire at 30 acres and 20% containment on its incident page late Monday, and said the fire started on May 18 in Los Angeles County. Local television reports said the fire was burning at a moderate rate of spread in dry conditions, with smoke visible from nearby communities. Authorities evacuated Burro Canyon Shooting Park as crews worked to keep the fire from spreading. ### Where did the fire start, and how close was it to nearby communities? The Burro Fire started shortly before 1:30 p.m. Monday near Burro Peak in the Angeles National Forest, according to local reports citing fire officials. The area sits in the mountains above the San Gabriel Valley, where forest land borders foothill communities and recreation sites. CBS Los Angeles reported the fire was burning in steep terrain near the Burro Canyon Shooting Park, which was evacuated. NBC Los Angeles said evacuation warnings were issued as firefighters responded in the forest near Burro Peak. ### How large was the fire by Monday evening? CAL FIRE listed the Burro Fire at 30 acres and 20% containment on Monday on its statewide incidents page. The agency’s active-incidents listing said the fire was one of several blazes burning across California on May 18. The Desert Sun reported Monday that the fire had burned about 30 acres after igniting earlier in the afternoon. NBC Los Angeles separately reported that the fire was being fought as an active vegetation fire in the forest. ### Who was fighting the fire? CAL FIRE’s incident listing showed the Burro Fire in Los Angeles County, where state and local agencies routinely work with the U.S. Forest Service on fires in the Angeles National Forest. The forest is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which says Angeles National Forest has one of the largest wildland firefighting forces of any national forest in the country. Angeles National Forest said on its fire information page that it operates 23 fire stations and relies on mutual-aid partnerships to respond to wildfires and emergencies. That structure typically brings together federal, county and state resources when a fire burns in or near the forest. ### What actions did authorities take around the fire? Burro Canyon Shooting Park was evacuated Monday as the fire burned nearby, according to CBS Los Angeles and a local report carried by MSN. NBC Los Angeles reported that evacuation warnings were issued in the area as crews assessed the fire’s movement. Los Angeles County emergency officials were monitoring the blaze by early afternoon, CBS Los Angeles reported. No injuries were immediately reported in the accounts reviewed Monday. ### What conditions were firefighters facing? CAL FIRE said in its 2026 seasonal outlook that Southern California was expected to remain warmer and drier than normal through the period, with below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures supporting increasing fire activity. The agency said drying fuels and limited inland moisture recovery were part of the pattern heading into summer. Those conditions formed the backdrop for Monday’s response in the Angeles National Forest, where fire activity can quickly affect roads, recreation areas and nearby foothill communities. The Forest Service says conditions in the forest can change suddenly because of weather and fire activity. ### Where will updates come from next? CAL FIRE said its incident page is updated frequently as conditions change. Los Angeles-area residents looking for changes in acreage, containment, evacuation warnings or closures were being directed Monday to official fire and emergency-management channels, including CAL FIRE, Angeles National Forest and Los Angeles County agencies.