Wildfire traps 5 people who refused to evacuate at Los Angeles-area ranch in canyon

Wildfire traps 5 people at Los Angeles-area ranch

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department says five people who refused to heed wildfire evacuation orders are trapped in a canyon and it’s too dangerous to rescue them.

Sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore says the four men and a woman refused to leave the Angeles National Forest two days ago. On Monday they called for help because they were unable to leave a ranch in Gold Canyon.

Whitmore says a sheriff’s helicopter had planned to help but the flames are too intense and authorities must wait for the fire to pass by before going in.

Authorities say three other people were badly burned over the weekend after refusing evacuation orders. Two of them sought refuge in a hot tub.

The 164-square-mile blaze has burned 21 homes and killed two firefighters.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A wildfire northeast of Los Angeles has spread to 164 square miles of brush and timber and it continues to grow.

The fire, which nearly doubled in size overnight, grew to 164 square miles by early Monday afternoon. It’s burned 21 homes and another 12,000 are threatened in foothill communities near the Angeles National Forest.

The fire is a half-mile from Mount Wilson, home to transmission towers for 20 TV stations, and the historic Mount Wilson Observatory. Los Angeles County fire Capt. Mark Whaling says it probably will reach Mount Wilson sometime Monday. Fire crews have laid down retardant, but Whaling says all they can do now is wait.

Several television stations have warned viewers that they may go off the air if the fire damages their transmission facilities.