Fork Fire in San Gabriel Canyon: 70 acres engulfed in flames, assisted evacuation above Azusa [Watch]

The weekend did not turn out to be as expected for those camping in the popular San Gabriel Canyon as the Los Angeles County firefighters alongside the US Forest Service crews fought a massive 70-acre fork fire above Azusa on Sunday. The wildfire, dubbed as Fork Fire, broke out at around noon and continued to spread until 5:20 pm, the local media reported.

People camping in the Valley for its popular swimming holes were immediately evacuated as the Fork Fire broke out in East Fork. Visitors to the park were also reportedly stuck as the Fork Fire blocked their usual exit from the south, but the authorities opened a closed section of Route 39 to the Angeles Crest Highway, which remained closed for public due to its rocky path, Fox11 reported.

In order to put out the massive 70-acre Fork Fire in the heavily wooded area of the canyon, the authorities decided to fly in a massive aerial tanker from the nearest base in Sacramento. Entry to the highway two miles above Sierra Madre Boulevard was shut down on Sunday for public safety.

Several videos and photos have been shared on Twitter following the incident. Check out some of the clips from people camping in the valley capture the Fork Fire as they were being escorted.