Though mandatory evacuations were lifted Tuesday in parts of the fire zone, up to 1,000 homes remain under evacuation orders, according to the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Services.
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A group of deer are seen during the Station fire in the Glendale area of Los Angeles, California September 1, 2009.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo]
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Fire commanders expressed optimism that the humidity level, which began increasing Monday night, would allow a second day of aggressive assaults on the blaze, as well as more backfire operations designed to safely burn some of the vegetation feeding the fire.
The National Weather Service predicted there is a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon in the San Gabriel Mountains, where the fire is raging.
Touring the fire command post Wednesday morning, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said officials were working to help people who were affected by the fire to "rebuild their lives."
"On Monday, I signed an executive order to boost the recovery effort," Schwarzenegger said. "We will waive replacement fees for very important documents, such as driver's licenses, birth certificates, and other important documents."
"I am committed to directing every possible resource to help firefighters successfully fight these fires and help fire victims throughout the state get their lives back together as quickly as possible," said Schwarzenegger. "My Administration will work with our local and federal partners at every level to help all fire victims and their communities recover."
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A home that burned during the Station Fire is pictured in the Tujunga area of Los Angeles, California September 1, 2009. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo]
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Schwarzenegger also said he was asking the Franchise Tax Board and the Board of Equalization to assist victims with tax extensions, and to provide relief from various late fees.
An investigation was still under way to determine the cause of the fire. But deputy incident commander Carlton Joseph said the fire was human-caused, but it's not known specifically how it was started or whether it was accidental or arson.
(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2009)
