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Crime & Safety

UPDATED: 1,700 Acres Burned Above Glendora; Mandatory Evacuations Underway

Evacuations ordered for homes north of Sierra Madre Boulevard. An emergency shelter has been set up at Goddard Middle School.

A fire has scorched about 1,7000 acres Thursday morning in the Angeles National Forest north of Glendora, prompting some mandatory evacuations of 1,7000 to 2,000 people from 870 homes and school closures, authorities said. The South Coast Air Quality District has issued a smoke advisory and is urging residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in areas directly impacted by the fire.  

There is zero percent containment and five structures have been damaged. The fire, being referred to as The Colby Fire, was reported shortly before 6 a.m. near San Gabriel Canyon Road, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Three helicopters were sent to the scene, along with firefighting ground crews and a SuperScooper, which began making water drops after 8 a.m.

Shortly after 7 a.m., evacuations were ordered for an area north of Sierra Madre Boulevard, from Grand Avenue to Glendora Mountain Road, according to the Glendora Police Department. About an hour later, the western boundary of the evacuation area was expanded to Azusa Avenue in Azusa, said Azusa Police Department Officials. An evacuation center was established at Finkbiner Park, near Foothill Boulevard and Grand Avenue in Glendora.

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Goddard Middle School at 859 E. Sierra Madre Ave. was closed and will serve as the unified command post, according to the Glendora Unified School District. Cullen Elementary, La Fetra Elementary and Sellers Middle School are also closed. Citrus College in Glendora was closed today because of the fire, said college spokeswoman Paula Green. She urged students and staff to keep track of developments affecting the school by checking the website at www.citrustruscollege.edu.

Evacuated pets can be brought to the Pasadena Humane Society at 361 S. Raymond Ave., according to the humane society.

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Glendora Mountain Road was closed, and traffic was slowing on the westbound Foothill (210) Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol. Covina Police, Azusa Police and Sierra Madre Police are assisting Glendora Police and fire officials at the scene.

The fire appears to be moving southwest, said Glendora Police.

Patch will continue to update this story as information becomes available.

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