August 31, 2009--Small fires dot the hillsides in Acton, California, north of Los Angeles, on Sunday after the so-called Station Fire burned through the area. The wildfire started Wednesday afternoon near a ranger station in Angeles National Forest (see map). Two firefighters died in a car crash on their way to battle the blaze, which doubled in size last night to 85,000 acres (more than 34,000 hectares), the Los Angeles Times reported.

The fire has destroyed dozens of homes and other structures along its path, forcing thousands to evacuate. Firefighters are also struggling to keep the blaze from reaching the historic Mount Wilson Observatory, home of the 100-inch Hooker telescope, which Edwin Hubble used to confirm the expansion of the universe.

"It's a serious situation. Is the observatory going to make it? We're doing everything in our power. But I wouldn't be surprised if it is impacted by fire today or tomorrow," Bob Shindelar, operations branch director for California Incident Management Team 5, told the Los Angeles Times Sunday afternoon.