Aug. 17--A brush fire broke out near the Rio Hondo River in Montebello on Sunday afternoon, closing roads, prompting evacuations at a nearby park and scorching an oil field.
All eastbound lanes of the 60 Freeway are shutdown at San Gabriel Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol.
At Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, the Legg Lake and shooting range areas of the park are being evacuated, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.
There are also street closures on San Gabriel Boulevard, Rosemead Boulevard and Durfee Avenue, said Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Amber Smith. The Montebello Police Department said Lincoln Avenue was closed between Rea Drive and San Gabriel Boulevard.
Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>
Dan Amador, deputy chief of the Montebello Fire Department, said the fast-moving fire jumped across Lincoln Avenue and spread into the Montebello Hills, onto the nearby PXP oil field.
"All oil field operations have ceased at this point," Amador said. "Everything is shut down." The flames had also jumped across San Gabriel Boulevard into a bamboo field, he said.
Dark plumes of smoke were visible across the area as the fire raged. Amador said in the mid-afternoon that the fire had burned roughly 10 acres and was continuing to move to the northeast.
Several fire departments rushed to assist the Montebello Fire Department after the fire was reported about 1:15 p.m. Sunday, including the Los Angeles County Fire Department and teams of firefighters from the nearby cities of Pasadena, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Alhambra, Arcadia, Glendale, South Pasadena and Monrovia.
As of mid-afternoon, no structures had been harmed.
Residents have not been ordered to leave their homes, but "a message did go out in the south San Gabriel letting people know to be prepared to evacuate ... if the situation warrants," said Leslie Luke of the county Office of Emergency Management.
"If they take it upon themselves to go ahead and evacuate, that's great," he said.
One firefighter had suffered heat exhaustion, officials said Sunday afternoon.
Hours later, the L.A. County Fire Department said a helicopter it sent to battle the blaze "had a hard landing," but "all crew members on board are OK."
Times staff writer Lauren Raab contributed to this report.
ALSO:
Three killed when two planes collide near San Diego's Brown Field
In-custody death of man accused of stealing U.S. flag investigated
Silver Lake street serves as a test run for L.A.'s traffic overhaul
UPDATES
6:30 p.m.: This story has been updated with information from Leslie Luke.
6:11 p.m.: This story has been updated with information about the "hard landing" of a helicopter.
5:59 p.m.: This story has been updated to add information about road closures and about evacuations at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.
This story was originally posted at 3:30 p.m.
