Thanks to the quirks of geography and meteorology, Angelenos who awoke before dawn today found most of the sky above reassuringly clear. Toward Angeles Crest Highway, however, the horizon told a far more ominous story as smoke from the Station Fire continued to enshroud the ridges around Mount Wilson with dense smoke. In fact, the Los Angeles Times reports that fire-fighting officials admit that “the fire could double in size again today.”

The main fire raging in the Angeles National Forest has already burned 42,000 acres and claimed the lives of two firemen who died when their truck plunged down a road south of Acton. It is believed to be only five percent contained, with full containment as far off as September 8. So far, miraculously, the peak of Mount Wilson, with its historical observatory and its cluster of communications towers, has been spared by the flames, although yesterday it seemed as though it might be overrun by the fire.

The number of closed roads and mandatory evacuation areas continues to grow.

For evacuation updates, call (626) 821-6700. Somewhat older online

updates can be found InciWeb.

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