The Station Fire, as they're calling it, erupted off Angeles Crest Highway at 3:20 Wednesday afternoon, August 26. As of now, it has burned 157,220 acres and destroyed 76 homes with damage to at least thirteen more. Another 7000 structures are still threatened. Two firefighters have died and nine more people have been injured.
Currently fighting the are twelve helitankers, seven helicopters, eight air tankers, 243 fire engines, 149 hand crews, 60 bulldozers and several thousand able bodies. Estimated cost of this fire is around $44,000,000 and at the moment, it's the tenth-largest fire in the state of California since 1932. It could place higher.
Right now, it's 51% contained and officials are hoping for full containment by September 15, more than a week from now. Keep in mind that "containment" does not necessarily mean "out."
It has been determined that the fire was man-made and an arson investigation has commenced. I thought this was dreadful before I heard that. The idea that someone would deliberately cause something like this makes it all the more horrifying. I can't imagine what kind of punishment would be appropriate for that person. I'd say, "Give him a conscience and a true realization of what he did," but that's just too barbaric.