Tankers from Base North of Redlands Support Ground Crews on Williams Fire

Tanker planes from the air base north of Redlands and Loma Linda were supporting crews fighting the Williams Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains, a tanker base manager said Monday afternoon.

The DC-10 tanker 911 and Cal Fire S-2 tankers made drops on the Williams Fire north of Azusa on Sept. 3, San Bernardino Tanker Base manager Leslie Casavan said.

The fire, which started Sunday in the East Fork of San Gabriel Canyon, had scorched about 4,000 acres and it was estimated 5 percent contained as of 4 p.m. Monday, Angeles National Forest spokesman John Wagner said.

There were about 500 personnel assigned to fire, which was burning in medium to heavy brush, all chaparral, on steep terrain, Wagner said. A half-dozen helicopters were also assigned to the fire, according to the Forest Service.

Evacuations included all campgrounds in San Gabriel Canyon, an area that can average 10,000 to 12,000 visitors during a holiday weekend, according to the Forest Service.

The fire was said to be pushing north toward the Sheep Mountain Wilderness area.

The point of origin was about half-way between Camp Williams and a shooting range on East Fork Road in San Gabriel Canyon, north of Azusa, 3 to 4 miles east of Highway 39, according to the Forest Service.

was visible Monday afternoon from Redlands, Loma Linda and other communities in the San Bernardino Valley.

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