LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters are braced for drier weather today, but remnants of a tropical storm have helped them gain ground on a blaze in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles.
Yesterday, crews managed to double containment on the nearly 4,200-acre fire to 48 percent.
A spokesman for the Angeles National Forest Spokesman says the fire has been stopped along the southern containment line where structures were threatened. He says permanent residents of the small community of Camp Williams will be allowed to return to their homes today.
Fire officials say the vegetation on the steep slopes in the Angeles National Forest hasn't burned in 15 or 20 years.
Nearly 1,300 firefighters are fighting the blaze. At least five of them have been injured on the treacherous terrain, but the injuries are described as minor.
The National Weather Service says there's a 25 percent chance of more thunderstorms in the area today. However, the weekend forecast calls for higher temperatures and lower humidity.
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105-a-15-(Robert Brady, fire information officer, U.S. Forest Service, in AP interview)-"in Saturday morning"-Fire information officer Robert Brady says non-residents will be allowed back into Angeles National Forest over the weekend. (6 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *105 (09/06/12)>> 00:15 "in Saturday morning"
104-a-10-(Robert Brady, fire information officer, U.S. Forest Service, in AP interview)-"spell will continue"-Fire information officer Robert Brady says remnants of Tropical Storm John helped firefighters gain ground the fire in Angeles National Forest. (6 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *104 (09/06/12)>> 00:10 "spell will continue"
102-a-10-(Robert Brady, fire information officer, U.S. Forest Service, in AP interview)-"will escort them"-Fire information officer Robert Brady says residents of Camp Williams in Angeles National Forest will be allowed back home Thursday morning. ((watch for dating)) (6 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *102 (09/06/12)>> 00:10 "will escort them"
103-a-06-(Robert Brady, fire information officer, U.S. Forest Service, in AP interview)-"for full containment"-Fire information officer Robert Brady says the fire in Angeles National Forest has burned about 4,180 acres and is 48 percent contained. (6 Sep 2012)
<<CUT *103 (09/06/12)>> 00:06 "for full containment"
APPHOTO LA107: Firefighter Romero Mercado checks for hotspots in the Angeles National Forest Wednesday Sept. 5, 2012 near Los Angeles. Fire crews are getting help from rain in battling a 3,800-acre fire in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) (5 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO LA107 (09/05/12)>>
APPHOTO LA105: Firefighter James Heaton, front, hoses down hotspots in the Angeles National Forest Wednesday Sept. 5, 2012 near Los Angeles. Fire crews are getting help from rain in battling a 3,800-acre fire in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) (5 Sep 2012)
<<APPHOTO LA105 (09/05/12)>>
