West side of Avalon evacuated

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Bob Rhein of the Catalina Island Conservancy said he could see the flames and several aircraft dropping fire retardant on the blaze from where he waited on the Catalina Express in Avalon Harbor for a return trip to the mainland.

He said the fire was visible just over the ridgeline to the west of town, but had not jumped the hill, at least so far. Rhein, media relations director for the conservancy, said he could see two fixed wing aircraft dropping retardant and several helicopters fighting the fire.

‘It’s smoky and there’s lots of thick ash dropping right now,’ Rhein said. ‘I can see an entire hillside going up in flames, but it’s still quite a way from Avalon.’

Rhein said the west side of town was being evacuated, including the Avalon Canyon area north of town, near the golf course.

-Rebecca Trounson

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