May 11, 2007 9:35 am US/Pacific
Crews Put Out Griffith Park Fire Hotspots
LOS ANGELES (CBS) ―
The Griffith Park Fire continues to burn for a fourth day, though authorities said full containment is imminent.
The L.A. Fire Department expected to announce full containment by 6 p.m. Thursday, but department spokeswoman Melissa Kelley said that 100 percent containment could not be declared until Friday.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilman Tom LaBonge, Fire Chief Douglas Barry and Los Angeles Dodger owners Frank and Jamie McCourt are expected to tour the area in the morning, then hold a news conference "to discuss joint efforts to rebuild the fire-damaged landmark," according to the mayor's office.
The L.A. Times reported that the emergency repair plan is expected to cost $50 million.
The fire, which authorities believe may have been started by a homeless man who fell asleep while smoking a cigarette, began Tuesday afternoon around 1:30 p.m. It started just east of the Hollywood sign in the Hollywood Hills and quickly moved into the thick brush, fanned by winds of roughly 10 mph amid high temperatures and exceptionally dry conditions.
On Tuesday night about 300 people evacuated their homes, though only residence sustained damage, which is estimated at $30,000.
The fire destroyed Griffith Park's Dante's View garden and the Captain's Roost area. A bird sanctuary was 10 percent damaged, and the Cedar Grove area had 20 percent damage, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. One city vehicle was lost at the Griffith Park Nursery, and several restrooms were destroyed.
Authorities are worried that major rains could cause massive landslides in the burned hillsides and canyons, so park rangers plan to immediately begin replanting and reseeding the burn areas, The Times reported.
"We need to get a lot done in the next six months because then we'll be right in the rainy season," Jon Murki, general manager of the city Recreation and Parks Department, told the Times.
"What happens if we get a bit of rain? All that ash and dirt is going to come rolling down," he told the Times.
Griffith Park remains closed Friday, a representative of the city's Parks and Recreation Department said. However, the California Highway Patrol has reopened all offramps on the Ventura (134) and Golden State (5) freeways.
The Los Angeles Department of Animal Services has warned residents that the fire has had "a major impact" on area wildlife.
"It is important for L.A. city residents to understand that many wild animals will be displaced by the fire and may turn up in areas ...where wildlife has never been seen before," a department statement said. "These animals will be looking for water and may be seen drinking from garden ponds, pools and other water reservoirs."
The department recommends that uninjured, displaced animals that do not appear to have been orphaned should be left alone. However, residents should report all injured, sick and orphaned animals to the Department of Animal Services at (888) 452-7381.
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued an alert that warns residents of poor air quality in central parts of Los Angeles County and the east San Fernando Valley, especially for residents with heart or lung disease, emphysema, asthma and chronic lung problems. They have urged residents to check their health, keep their medication handy and avoid any outdoor physical activity. The department added that schools in areas affected by the smoke should halt all physical activity and restrict general activity for individuals with health problems.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
