Powerhouse Fire 78 Percent Contained, 24 Homes Destroyed

Photo: Thomas Hart/Filckr/Creative Commons License

Firefighters are a step closer to extinguishing the week-old Powerhouse Fire today. The blaze, which has blackened 30,274 aces in the Angeles National Forest, has been 78 percent contained.

24 homes have been destroyed in the fire and three have been damaged. The homes were located in Lake Hughes, Lake Elizabeth, and other nearby communities. Personnel on the fire lines was reduced this morning and a helicopter with infrared imaging capabilities has arrived to help extinguish hot spots and confirm the fire's perimeter. The fire is expected to be fully contained by midnight Monday.

The estimated cost of fighting has risen to $11.4 million, a steep increase from the $7,897,391 price tag on Tuesday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has promised to cover 75 percent of the total cost.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.