MOUNTAINS – A motorcyclist died Tuesday after a crash in the mountains far above Azusa, the CHP said.
 
The rider crashed on Highway 39 March 8 and was airlifted to a hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to Officer Kendricks of the California Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. The rider was southbound on Highway 39 at mile marker 25.16 when the 2014 Yamaha WR250 left the roadway at a curve at an unknown speed. The rider was ejected when the motorcycle overturned, according to the CHP in a written statement.
 
The U.S. Forest Service, Los Angeles County firefighters and a helicopter responded to Highway 39 near Morris Dam March 8 around 4:52 p.m.
 
The rider has yet to be identified.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Firefighters have just stopped forward progress of a 50-foot-by-50-foot spot fire at the base of the foothills on the border with Duarte Friday morning.

The fire is burning near the end of Encanto Parkway north of Huntington Drive, south of the long defunct Azusa Gun Club, according to the Los Angeles county fire department.

The fire is burning in medium fuels in the riverbed.

A full brushfire response was initially requested by the Los Angeles county fire department, but a battalion chief has canceled a request for aircraft and for bulldozers and is confident that ground crews currently on scene can handle the fire.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

AZUSA - Ground crews continue building containment lines around the Ranch 2 Fire burning in treacherous terrain in the Azusa mountains Saturday.

Firefighters have further revised acreage burned to 1,400 with 3 percent containment. Crews will have greater emphasis on building containment lines on the northern flank of the fire to prevent deeper spread into the wilderness, according to the US Forest Service.

Greater containment lines were established on the south side of the fire overnight near the gated Mountain Cove community as minimal fire activity occurred near the homes.

Firefighters will scout for topographical features to aid in extending containment lines, the US Forest Service said.

Weather over the next four days will be the biggest challenge for ground crews.

Temperatures will be in the low hundreds Saturday through Wednesday. Humidity is expected to be from 17 to 22 percent. Thunderstorms and unstable winds are possible Saturday, the US Forest Service said.

Due to the Ranch 2 Fire and fire weather conditions in the San Gabriel Valley, Highway 39 remains closed from Sierra Madre Avenue to East Fork Road.

Glendora Mountain Road is closed from Big Dalton Road to East Fork Road.

Glendora Ridge Road is closed from GMR to Mt. Baldy Road.

Santa Anita Canyon Road is closed from Arno Drive to Chantry Flats Road.

Azusa Police and Los Angeles County Fire investigators suspect arson as the cause of the Ranch 2 Fire.

Police named local transient Osmin Palencia, 36, as an arson suspect. He lives in the San Gabriel riverbed near the origin of the fire.

Palencia is considered violent and people should avoid contact.

Anyone with information on Palencia’s whereabouts is urged to call Azusa Police at 626-812-3200.