A fast growing fire in the San Gabriel Valley foothills on Saturday afternoon has exploded and more than 3,000 residents and tourists have been evacuated.
Known as the Williams Fire, a shift in the fire’s direction in the early evening apparently has lessened the danger to homes and residents in the immediate area, but it appears that firefighters have a long battle ahead of them.
A massive plume of smoke could be seen throughout Southern California on Sunday afternoon.
The blaze was moving north toward the Sheep Mountain Wilderness Area, forest officials said.
–Randy Economy
