5 months ago
LOS ANGELES, CA - Hundreds of firefighters guarding foothill communities against the massive Angeles National Forest wildfire north of Los Angeles are being sent back to their stations as the threat eases.
Los Angeles County fire Capt. Mark Whaling said 13 strike teams were being released Wednesday. They were defending homes in La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta and other communities north of Los Angeles.
About 270 firefighters will leave, along with 65 of the 500 fire engines.
Whaling said it's the first time any teams have been demobilizedsince the fire began seven days ago.
Cooler temperatures and higher humidity were helping firefighters in their battle. Fire crews have the Station Fire 28 percent contained as of late Wednesday afternoon. See fire, smoke photos
The fire has burned close to 220 square miles, killed two firefighters and destroyed more 64 homes and 49 outbuildings. Another 12,000 homes were still threatened and thousands of residents remain displaced.
The blaze broke out Aug. 26.
Burn Efforts Draw Scrutiny
The Associated Press has learned that the federal government did not carry through on efforts to burn away decades of brush on nearly 2,000 parched acres in the forest where the raging wildfire on the edge of Los Angeles broke out.
Months before, federal authorities obtained permits to burn highly flammable brush in the Angles National Forest. But the AP has obtained records showing that fewer than 200 acres had been cleared by the time the fire erupted.
The Forest Service said it did remove some brush by hand and that tricky weather patterns made it tough to do all the planned burns.
Cause of Fire
A U.S. Forest Service official says the fire was human-caused.
Deputy incident commander Carlton Joseph said Wednesday that it's not known specifically how it was started.
Investigators will be trying to determine whether it was accidental or arson.
Carlton said investigators have leads that brought them to the conclusion but he will not give any further information.
Carlton noted that the options were lightning or a human cause and lightning has been ruled out.
The ignition point has only been identified as mile marker 29 on Angeles Crest Highway.
The Associated Press
