A fire scorched more than 60 acres of thick vegetation Tuesday at the south end of the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale amid triple-digit heat, authorities said.
Callers reported seeing smoke billowing from the 15,000 block area of the Arrow Freeway in Irwindale near the Baldwin Park border around 4:56 p.m., supervising dispatcher Bernard Peters with the County Fire Department said. Los Angeles.
More than 70 firefighters, including several helicopters, took control of the blaze at 8 p.m., halting its progress, but not before it had burned 65 acres, authorities said.
No structures were threatened by the fire and no injuries were reported, Peters said.
Video 2: Previous view as @LACoFireAirOps multi-mission Firehawk helicopter arrived at #SantaFeFire to Irwindale to help @LACoFD. With @LACoFDPIO @LACoFD911 @CityofIrwindale @ParcsLASD pic.twitter.com/FuPw3RWyn1
– LACoFireAirOps (@LACoFireAirOps) June 16, 2021
The blaze ignited on what was dubbed Southern California’s hottest day of 2021 by National Weather Service officials, Tuesday marking the start of a heat wave in the region. The Weather Service recorded temperatures at a high of 102 degrees at the Santa Fe Dam on Tuesday.
Large plumes of smoke from the fire could be seen throughout the San Gabriel Valley. Fire crews planned to remain in the recreation area throughout the evening, cleaning up any remaining hotspots.
Fires often burn in the Santa Fe Dam area, where large expanses of thick, dry vegetation provide excellent fuel for the flames.
Last month, a separate fire engulfed 33 acres of the recreation area.
The cause of Tuesday’s fire is under investigation.
