LA-area blaze doubles in size, threatens homes

LOS ANGELES – The U.S. Forest Service says a wildfire in the mountains north of Los Angeles nearly doubled in size overnight and continues to threaten a broadcasting antenna complex and thousands of homes.

Spokeswoman Dianne Cahir says the fire had burned 134 square miles of brush and trees by early Monday.

The fire in the Angeles National Forest was only 5 percent contained before making its overnight run. It's a half-mile from Mt. Wilson, a ridgetop center that includes many broadcasting antennas and an observatory. Crews planned to set backfires to slow its advance. Planes have dropped retardant around the towers.

At least 18 homes have burned and 12,000 are threatened in a 20-mile stretch from Pasdena to Acton. Two firefighters died when their vehicle rolled down a mountain.