California firefighters set strategic fire to build wildfire containment line

Firefighters in California have been filmed setting fire to brush in the Mount Wilson area of Los Angeles.The controlled fires are a strategy to stop the raging Bobcat Fire that is currently looming over Pasadena, a city in Los Angeles County and destroying the Angeles National Forest.LA County Fire Department said that the strategic firing is being used to create a perimeter and stop the fire spreading east.A statement said: "Crews and aircraft will work to build a containment line between Big Rock Creek Road and Highway 2 to stop the fire’s eastward spread."The Bobcat Fire started 12:21 pm on the 6th of September in the Angeles National Forest, Azusa, California.It has so far destroyed 113,986 acres of land and many areas have been forced to evacuate.A massive crew of 1,575 personnel, 170 engines, 25 handcrews, 11 helicopters, 19 bulldozers and 10 water tenders have been working constantly but have so far only managed to control 50 percent of the fire.Firefighters have estimated that they will have it under control by 30th September.The cause is still under investigation.