125-Acre Madison Fire In Monrovia 85 Percent Contained
MONROVIA (CBSLA.com) — A brush fire that charred about 125 acres and forced the evacuation of 200 homes in Monrovia is 85 percent contained.
That number was downgraded from the 175 acres as was initially reported by authorities.
"We brought in GIS teams that were able to give us more accurate numbers taking out the topography and slope," Chief Chris Donovan of the Monrovia Fire Department said Sunday. "We're now reporting that the fire is 125 acres in size."
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As of 4 p.m., all evacuation orders were lifted.
No structures have been damaged in the blaze, which burned near homes.
"Within 20 minutes or so, that fire was just blazing. Coming over our mountain," Monrovia resident, David Fernandez, said Saturday. "I live on Highland Place and it went up very rapidly. Very scary. Very Scary. You had minutes to get out."
Fernandez was among the couple hundred residents forced to evacuate.
An evacuation shelter was established at Monrovia Community Center but members of the Red Cross told KCAL9's Joy Benedict that residents didn't utilize it overnight.
The Madison fire ignited shortly after 11 a.m. on Crescent Drive and Madison Avenue near the 210 Freeway.
Fueled by thick heavy brush, authorities believe the fire was accidentally sparked by a gardener's power tools.
More than 200 firefighters from around Southern California worked the fire at its height. A total of 65 fire engines from multiple fire agencies had been called in to assist when the blaze broke out, along with two air-tankers, five helicopters, and six hand crews.
Authorities Sunday said four strike teams amounting to 20 fire engines, along with four hand crews, remained on the fire-lines. Two water-dropping helicopters were on stand-by.
One firefighter has sustained a heat-related injury, but no other injuries have been reported.
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