Authorities on Friday reopened an area in the Angeles National Forest that was closed because of the Mount Wilson fire, which scorched about 50 acres of brush in an area where firefighters were still working to douse hot spots.
The fire, reported about 5 a.m. on Oct. 17, led to the precautionary evacuation of the landmark observatory for a time.
Firefighters are still working to fully extinguish all embers from the fire, listed as 70 percent contained, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County sheriff's Altadena Station.
"Officials say the area, roads and trails in the vicinity of the Wilson Fire are open again because the potential for rapid growth has diminished," the sheriff's statement said.
Jeffrey Vail, Angeles Forest Supervisor cautioned that although the area is once again open to the public, "we encourage everyone to remain alert for possible hazards ... such as rolling rocks and logs, dead standing trees and stump holes."
More information is available at the forest website, www.fs.usda.gov/angeles.
On the afternoon of Oct. 18, authorities found the charred body of 18- year-old Matthew Huerta at the fire scene. He had been reported missing in Sylmar. An autopsy was pending to determine his cause of death.
