Crews Work To Extinguish Brush Fire Hotspots Burning In Montebello

MONTEBELLO (CBSLA.com) — Authorities on Monday continued to extinguish hotspots burning within a 225-acre area where a brush fire erupted in the Montebello area.

At 6 a.m., firefighters drew a plan of attack on the so-called Lincoln fire.

Scorching temperatures remain a concern today as the heat could cause hotspots to reignite in the area.

"Crews are out there right now," said L.A. County Fire Department Inspector Chris Reade. "They have hose lines out and they are putting out any hotspots that they see."

Reade explained the fire broke out just after 1 p.m. on Sunday. Firefighters were sent to the Rio Hondo riverbed near Lincoln and La Merced avenues.

"The fire moved real quickly," said Reade. "It did have that dry brush. We had high temps and low humidity yesterday. The fire was jumping from one area to another."

Crews dealt with burning electrical lines while flames jumped over the roadway.

"It wasn't even that windy," Reade added. "It would just carry embers across the road and start in another area."

According to Southern California Edison, 10 poles fell as a result of the damage. About 62 customers remain without power in the area.

At one point, the fire closed a portion of the 60 Freeway for several hours.

According to firefighters, nearly three dozen homes located on Muscatel and Hazel avenues were placed on voluntary evacuation orders.

Officials reported about 12 transients were removed from the area of the blaze.

Reade explained one of the department's helicopters was forced to make a hard landing for an unknown reason.

One of the crew members inside the aircraft was transported for minor injuries.

Three other firefighters were also treated for minor injuries sustained while battling the flames.

According to police, a Arturo Aguilar, 45, of Los Angeles, was arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the fire on Sunday.

He is being held on $35,000 bail and will be charged with arson and negligent fire.

At this time, the fire remains at 60 percent containment.