Crews prepare for clean-up, rehabilitation work

A Red Flag Warning will be in effect for the Station Fire through Wednesday due to winds gusting to 35 mph and a relative humidity below 15 percent. Weak to light Santa Ana winds are predicted for late Monday night.

The Station Fire is 94 percent contained, with full containment now expected September 22. So far, the incident has consumed 160,557 acres of the Angeles National Forest which has not seen major fire activity in more than 40 years. It is the largest fire in the recorded history of Los Angeles County and the 10th largest in California history.

Containment refers to the degree to which the fire is surrounded by a fuel break of clear, non-combustible land. The Station Fire is now surrounded by 132 miles of containment line. A controlled fire has been completely extinguished.

Road closures remain in effect throughout the affected area. Many roads have been damaged by falling boulders and debris and loss of guardrails. For more information, contact the CHP at (323) 982-4900.

Once the fire is over, firefighters’ work isn’t yet complete. They will begin Fire Suppression Repair and Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) procedures. This work is intended to make sure the fire doesn’t cause further disasters. BAER crews repair areas affected by fuel break lines and mitigate risks caused by the fire, such as increased erosion or flooding.

At the peak of the Station Fire, air operations consisted of 23 helicopters, 8 tankers, 2 DC-10 air tankers, the 747 supertanker, and the Martin Mars, a WWII-era flying boat also known as a super scooper.

The cause of the fire has been deemed arson and a homicide investigation is now open, since two firefighters died. No suspects have been identified, though Governor Schwarzenegger has offered up a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any suspect or suspects.