The relentless brush fire in the Los Angeles National Forest is finally slowing down, just a bit.
Now having consumed 140,000 acres, and currently being battled by 4,128 firefighing personnel, the blaze’s imminent threat to the TV and radio broadcast infrastructure, as well as an historic observatory complex, sitting atop Mt. Wilson has subsided.
Figherfighters from the National Forest Service and L.A. County, among other jurisdictions, say a threat to the antenna relay structures still exist, but aggressive water and retardant air drops over the last several days have protected the them from the blaze’s closest encroachments so far.
Figherfighters have benefitted from cooler temperatures and greater humidity over the last several days, but are concerned about higher temperatures on Wednesday afternoon that are expected to be in the 90s. Firefighting officials say the situation would be far worse if the Santa Ana winds were involved.
Residents of previously evacuated communities including La Crescenta and La Canada Flintridge have been allowed back in their homes. However, evacuation orders for Altadena, the rural northern edge of which is currently being threatened by the wildfire, are being considered.
So far, the fire has burned down 62 homes and has led to the deaths of two firefighters, who perished Sunday when their truck careened off a mountain road trying to escape the blaze.
