Station Fire Nearly Contained; Warmer Weather Could Be Challenging

Warming trend could make things more difficult for firefighters

Updated 2:54 PM PDT, Thu, Jan 7, 2010

Print Email Share TWITTER FACEBOOK

Firefighters had only 7 percent of the 250-square-mile Station Fire left to contain Friday, but the projected full containment date has been pushed back yet again, this time to Tuesday.

The U.S. Forest Service described both the fire's current behavior and growth potential as “minimal,” thanks to “high humidity and cooler temperatures.” But a warming trend is under way, with valley areas reaching triple digits.

“By Monday it will be significantly warmer,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Curt Kaplan.

“From Tuesday to Thursday, there will definitely be some local offshore winds,” he said, adding that the increase in winds would likely begin about 3 a.m. Tuesday.

The warming trend could make things more difficult for firefighters still battling the vestiges of the 160,557-acre fire in the Angeles National Forest.

Fire officials now say they expect the fire to be fully contained by midnight on Sept. 22. Containment was previously projected for last Saturday evening. Before that, it was Friday. Initially, the projected containment date was Sept. 15, exactly a week earlier than the current estimated date of full containment.

Close to 765 firefighters remain assigned to the fire, which was 93 percent contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

On Thursday, the fire remained active in the Mount Wilson area, and smoke could be seen from just east of Mount Wilson to Devore as undergrowth burned and firefighters worked to put out hot spots, the Forest Service reported.

Hot spots also continue to produce smoke inside the burned area of Big Tujunga, according to fire officials.

State and county highways within the Angeles National Forest remain closed because of destroyed guard rails, falling boulders, rockslides and hillside erosion, the Forest Service said.

Since it was set by an arsonist on Aug. 26, the fire has destroyed 89 residences, 26 commercial properties and 94 outbuildings.

It also claimed the lives of two Los Angeles County firefighters -- Capt. Tedmund “Ted” Hall, 47, of San Bernardino County, and firefighter Specialist Arnaldo “Arnie” Quinones, 35, of Palmdale.

The estimated cost of the firefighting effort stands at around $92.6 million.

Investigators are searching for the arsonist responsible for setting the blaze and asked anyone with information on its origin to call (323) 890-5500. The state is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction while Los Angeles County has announced a $50,000 reward.