ANGELES FOREST BLAZE DOUSED.Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer The signs leading to the Angeles National Forest The Angeles National Forest (ANF) was established by executive order on December 20, 1892 as the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve. It covers over 2,600 km² (650,000 acres) and is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, just north of the metropolitan area of Los are clear: No flammable flam·ma·ble adj. Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; inflammable. [From Latin flamm material allowed. No exceptions. In a very hot and dry climate fires can easily burn out of control and those signs are mere reminders. On Monday, firefighters in the forest area around San Francisquito Canyon worked for more than 12 hours to contain a raging brush fire that charred nearly 450 acres, forest officials said. As crews continued mop-up efforts Tuesday against the hot and black backdrop of the brush area, authorities were left to wonder why three Saugus men, arrested on suspicion of setting the blaze, possessed what deputies described as explosives in the no-fire zone. ``We don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what they were doing,'' said forest worker Tim Van derveen. James Bruggman, 20, Michael McCune, 19, and Daniel Pearson, 19, were arrested on suspicion of arson and possession of illegal explosives. Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County sheriff's Lt. Daniel Castillo said the men may have simply failed to use common sense. ``I suspect they were playing around with the fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to in a place that wasn't too smart and therefore caused a big problem,'' Castillo said. The three men, who are each being held in lieu of $500,000 bail, are scheduled to be arraigned today in Newhall Municipal Court. The fire, which was 70 percent contained late Monday, was completely doused Tuesday morning, officials said. Fire officials said there is still a need to monitor the area. ``There are still a lot of hot spots hot spots acute moist dermatitis. that we have to be careful of and keep an eye on,'' said Capt. Everardo Gonzales of the St. Francis Dam The St. Francis Dam was a concrete gravity-arch dam, designed to create a reservoir as part of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. The dam was located 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Los Angeles, California, near the city of Santa Clarita. Ranger Station in San Francisquito Canyon. ``We will have crews working all day and throughout (today) along the roads and on the hillsides,'' Gonzales said. The fire started about four miles north of the start of San Francisquito Canyon Road and two miles north of the southern border of national forest land, officials said. Crew 64, the Los Angeles Valley College LAVC redirects here. For the software library, see libavcodec. The university is adjacent to Grant High School. Often called "Valley College" or simply "Valley" by those who frequent the campus, it opened its doors to the public on September 12, 1949, at which time the campus was Monarchs, continued to water down charred areas as the heat from the blaze was still almost unbearable late Tuesday. No one was hurt in the blaze and no structures were damaged, Gonzales said. Forest officials said the men allegedly were setting fireworks near a group of trees along the canyon road, igniting the blaze. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--Color in SAC Edition only) Eric Gonzalez of the Valley College Monarchs camp crew checks for hot spots Tuesday in San Francisquito Canyon. (2--Color) (Ran in SAC Edition only) Valley College Monarchs crew member Jose Ramirez clears a section of brush in the aftermath of the fire. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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