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2 Firefighters Killed in Calif. Blaze

Pair drives off road as flames consume national forest

By Mary Papenfuss, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 31, 2009 3:04 AM CDT

(Newser) – Two California firefighters drove off a treacherous road to their death as they helped battle a 43,000-acre inferno in the Angeles National Forest, reports the Los Angeles Times. More than 2,800 firefighters, 12 helicopters and eight air tankers have converged on the area where the blaze now threatens some 13,000 homes in Los Angeles County. The blaze is only 5% contained, and has already destroyed 18 homes.

"In this rugged, steep terrain, with this brush as thick as it is, we are having difficulties establishing containment lines where we can make a stand," said a spokesman for the county fire department. "This fire is still very much out of control."

Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies and residents help evacuate horses as the Station fire burns in the hills above Acton, Calif., yesterday. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)

A fire cheif waits as flames from the Station Fire blows over Aliso Canyon Road near Acton, Calif., yesterday. (AP Photo/Mike Meadows)

Golfers ride in a golf cart as smoke billows from the Station Fire in the hills behind the Angeles National Golf Coarse in Sunland, Calif., in Los Angeles County yesterday. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

A United States Forest Service air tanker drops fire retardant next to a line of fire as the Station fire burns in the hills above a home in Acton, Calif., yesterday. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg)

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2 Firefighters Killed in Calif. Blaze

Pair drives off road as flames consume national forest

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Squirrel tests positive, raising fears of outbreak

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At least not without major help from Uncle Sam

Lab Tests Substance in LA Wildfire Probe

Station fire, 42% contained, chars 148K acres

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With blaze having killed 2 firefighters, sheriff begins homicide investigation

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2 Firefighters Killed in Calif. Blaze

Pair drives off road as flames consume national forest

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

California • Los Angeles • firefighters • wildfires • California wildfires • brush fires • brushfires • Los Angeles County • Acton • Angeles National Forest

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Yosemite Fire Scorches 5K Acres

Skies still blue over park despite huge blaze

Plague Fears Close California Campground

Squirrel tests positive, raising fears of outbreak

California: Too Broke for More Fires

At least not without major help from Uncle Sam

Lab Tests Substance in LA Wildfire Probe

Station fire, 42% contained, chars 148K acres

LA Fire Began as Arson: Feds

With blaze having killed 2 firefighters, sheriff begins homicide investigation

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?