Updated: Brush Fire in Angeles National Forest 90 Percent Contained

The Madre Fire remained at an estimated 90 percent containment Saturday, and it has charred 268 acres of Angeles National Forest hillsides north of Azusa since breaking out Monday night, according to fire officials.

The containment figure remained unchanged for the past 24 hours, according to the U.S. Forest Service. And the fire now poses little or no danger at this point.

Resources committed to the fire have been scaled back to 173 firefighters, and their duties were hold and improve the fire line as firefighters move towards full containment.

More than 500 firefighters backed by seven helicopters battled the blaze on Wednesday, and most of the active flames were gone by Wednesday night, said Nathan Judy of the U.S. Forest Service.

The fire was reported at 5:56 p.m. Monday along San Gabriel Canyon Road, Highway 39, and burned into the Angeles National Forest, prompting an aggressive series of aerial water drops. What sparked the fire has not been reported.

Three firefighters have suffered minor injuries battling the fire, Judy said.

The Madre Fire was reported at 5:56 p.m. Monday along San Gabriel Canyon (39) Road and burned into the Angeles National Forest. It was unclear how the fire started.

By Tuesday night, firefighters had the fire about 70 percent contained or surrounded by defensible fire lines.

About 520 firefighters were assigned to the blaze as of this morning, backed by seven helicopters, Ryan Carey of the U.S. Forest Service said.

Although SuperScooper airplanes were used earlier this week, none was deployed today, Carey said. Full containment was expected by Friday morning.

The National Weather Service issued a high wind advisory for the area, effective through 3 a.m. Thursday. Winds primarily out of northwest at 20-30 mph were forecast, with gusts up 45 mph by this afternoon. The strongest gusts were expected in the late afternoon and evening, according to the NWS.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory today for areas of the San Gabriel Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains.

The AQMD urged people to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in any area directly impacted by smoke, including areas where residents can see or smell smoke.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Keith Mora said two firefighters have been injured. One suffered minor injuries to a leg when he was grazed by a falling boulder, and a second firefighter suffered an eye injury.

The fire started at 5:56 p.m. and county firefighters fought the blaze with SuperScoopers, helicopters and ground forces. As of 11 p.m., the fire had grown from about 50 acres to 190 acres and caused the evacuation of three homes, according to Nathan Judy of the U.S. Forest Service.

The U.S. Forest Service took over firefighting duties.

One helicopter and about 150 firefighters were on scene. The fire was mostly burning in Fish Canyon near Van Tassel Ridge, said Angel Lavell of the Angeles National Forest.

Street closures in the Duarte area included Huntington Drive at Encanto Parkway. All residential streets that intersect with Encanto Parkway north of Huntington Drive into Fish Canyon were also closed. Encanto Park was closed and being used as a staging area for water-dropping helicopters.