Crews contain 51% of deadly Los Angeles-area wildfire

Authorities touring calmer areas of the 10-day-old blaze found the destroyed homes on Sunday, bringing the total to 78. The fire, which started Aug. 26, has blackened nearly 246 square miles of the Angeles National Forest and also destroyed a pair of commercial buildings, fire spokesman Ian MacDonald said.

Fire agencies so far have spent nearly $50 million fighting the blaze, which was 51 percent surrounded. Full containment was not expected until Sept. 15.

Thousands of firefighters continued work on surrounding the blaze, focusing on the flames' active eastern edge as investigators analyzed clues found at a burnt hillside near Angeles Crest Highway where the fire started. Officials have said the cause of the fire was arson, but have not released any findings.

(...) The fire remained a threat to some 5,000 homes and commercial buildings in Monrovia and other foothill communities, but none were in immediate danger. Fire crews planned to light backfires to help destroy fuels if the weather is not too hot and dry, and officials told residents not to be alarmed if they see fresh plumes of smoke.