Sierra Madre Fire Threatens Residents

Sierra Madre fire has forced immediate evacuations of 100 homes in neighborhoods near Pasadena.

The fire started in the foothills of the Sierra Madre range in Los Angeles County on Saturday and quickly spread to threaten hundreds of homes and 11,600 residents in the city nearby.

Sierra Madre officials said mild winds and hot, dry weather could delay full containment of the blaze until Tuesday or Wednesday.

Weather officials say the predictions of a hot dry summer ahead makes this blaze a warning of things to come.

Firefighters originally had hoped to have the blaze contained Sunday, but gusting winds late Saturday night kept the fire burning out of control and creeping toward nearby homes. The mandatory evacuation order came shortly before 11 p.m.

"I think the biggest concern is this area ... has not burned in 10-plus years, so there's a lot of fuel up there for this fire," Elisa Weaver of the Arcadia Fire Department said.

The fire about broke out on a hot, dry Saturday afternoon in Southern California and about 10 miles northeast of Pasadena.

Containment was not expected for two to three days.

More than 200 firefighters were aided by a dozen engines, three water tankers and three helicopters as they took on the blaze. More air support was expected later Sunday morning.