Crescenta Valley residents may be seeing some smoke and increased activity of water dropping helicopters in the next few days due to the ongoing Station Fire, said Brian Grant, spokesman for the US Forest Service.

“With the expected winds, high temperatures and low humidity in the next few days [the Station Fire incident commander] has ordered four helitankers and water tender equipment,” Grant said.

The intent of the helicopters and the tactical water tender is to extinguish  remaining interior hotspots and reduce the risk of embers igniting additional fuels, in and around the Mt. Wilson area, according to the forest service website.

What firefighters are worried about now is the burning of the underground fuels that embers do not fly up to the top of the trees, Grant said.

The majority of the fire is now a series of hotspots throughout the burned area.

“[The incident command] is currently using infrared helicopters to get a GPS [global positioning system] fix on the hot spots,” Grant said.

As of Saturday, Sept. 19, the Station Fire was 93% contained with over 160,557 acres burned. The estimated total containment date has been set for Sept. 22 and 733 personnel continue to work the fire that is now at an estimated costs of $83,811,013, Grant said.

As firefighters continue their work on hot spots and prevention, including watering down the side of Mt. Wilson, other U.S. Forest team members are assessing the damage.

“Angeles Crest Highway is still closed. There are lots of guard rails down and a lot of rocks. Caltrans is up here with full size [dump] trucks and bobcats clearing the roads,” Grant said.

When the Angeles National Forest or the Angeles Crest Highway will again be open has yet to be determined.

Questions regarding the fire can be directed to (626) 334-7582 or visit the forest service website at www.inciweb.org.