California Wildfires 2014: Fast Moving Brush Fire Ignites in Angeles National Forest

Angeles National Forest hikers and campers had to escape a fire that was originally reported to have consumed nearly 400 acres in the San Gabriel Canyon on Sunday, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The steep and rocky terrain caused trouble for firefighters in the area.

"It's very steep, and that's some of the issues that our firefighters are having, is rugged terrain-them getting up there, and getting up there safely," Nathan Judy of the forest service said.

Wind gusts from 20 to 40 mph helped push the fire reported weather.com senior meteorologist Jon Erdman, which made the blaze difficult to contain, "general onshore winds in southern California means the fire is not being blown toward populated areas," he said. Which is a good thing. Residences were said to be safe from the fast moving fire, which was about 5 percent contained by late Sunday night.

The fire started at about 2:30 p.m. on Sunday as outside temperatures hovered around 100 degrees.  It's being called the Tecolote Fire, and by Monday morning, it had been 40 percent contained. Reports said at least one firefighter was injured in the blaze. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

Much of the burn area was smoke and embers today, said the forest service. The team that battled back the blaze, which lasted less than a day consisted of more than 200 firefighters, who were aided by  four helicopters and six water tanker planes that flew to the scene to douse the blaze with water. 

Although officials had reported some 400 acres were burned the number was later changed to 275 acres, "due to more precise mapping," the forest officials said. The Fire Information Center at Angeles National Forest  had closed HWY 39 and only allowed residents to used the southernmost part of the closure zone. Campgrounds and recreation activities in the area were evacuated. None of the homes at the base of the canyon had been threatened.

Officials had not updated the fire information by Monday afternoon.