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Station Fire Moving Slowly on Eastern Side, County Feels the Burn
The Station Fire has slowed significantly, but that doesn't mean its impact is any less significant as it continues to burn through ravines full of dry brush and vegetation on its eastern front. As of yesterday, the total acreage the blaze has consumed reached 157,220 according to the LA Times, and is burning "a safe distance from populated areas."
But the aftermath of the burn continues to resonate. Yesterday, as it becomes safe for officials to inspect burn areas, "three more homes in the Upper Big Tujunga area were found destroyed, bringing the total for the Station fire to at least 78."
What's also rising is the cost to battle what has become the largest wildfire in the county's modern history: "$49 million and rising." The blaze is altering the landscape of the forest's beloved recreational areas, too--losses mourned by outdoor enthusiasts and locals alike.
The focus right now is on the eastern edge of the San Gabriel Wilderness above Monrovia, and "California 39, a mountain road that runs north from Azusa, is the line officials hope the fire won't cross. The fire is at 51% containment (LA Now's latest headline says 56%), and the date estimated for full containment remains at September 15th. Helping slow the burn are cooler temperatures and more moisture in the air, but the "dense vegetation in the mountains" leaves much fuel for the fire to gnaw through, and, according to the National Weather Service's Todd Hall, the fire itself "creates its own microclimate."
Areas on the fire's western side and in communities near its start point in the Angeles National Forest are working to return back to regular life, though in some places fire officials continue to monitor the fire's activity closely.
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