ROCK CLIMBERS RESCUED AS FIRE SWELLS TO 1,500 ACRES IN EL MONTE VALLEY

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Dennis Richardson

August 21, 2010 (Lakeside) – 2:50 p.m. – Two rock climbers were trapped 1,500 feet up the side of El Capitan, dangling on the sheer rock face in El Monte Valley with a wildfire burning toward him.  Moments ago, Sheriff's Lieutenant Munsey informed ECM that the climber has been rescued.  Cal-Fire reports that a total of 10 people have been evacuated via helicopter, including 8 residents and the two climbers.

The fire has now grown to 300 acres and El Monte Park has been evacuated.  "It's cresting El Capitan and burning along the ridge, going up the face," ECM photographer Dennis Richardson said.  Fire is also burning east of the dam in a northeast direction. "It's a very intense fire," Richardson noted, adding that a stand of trees in the riverbed area west of the dam is also in flames.

The fire is now under joint command with  U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire.

If you have eyewitness reports or photos, please e-mail editor@eastcountymagazine.org and/or post comments below.