Madre fire near Azusa: Aggressive air attack proves effective

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A DC-10 drops retardant on the Madre fire in the Angeles National Forest near Azusa. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A Super Scooper makes a water drop on the Madre fire in the Angeles National Forest near Azusa. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A Los Angeles County firefighter monitors the brush fire on the hills of the San Gabriel Canyon area above Azusa, (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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A helicopter monitors the brush fire on the hills of the San Gabriel Canyon area above Azusa. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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A U.S. Forest Service firefighter at the flood control basin watching the brush fire on the hills of the San Gabriel Canyon. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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A U.S. Forest Service firefighter pulls on a hose. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

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A helicopter drops water during a brush fire in San Gabriel Canyon above Azusa. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times)

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A brush fire burns along ridge lines near San Gabriel Canyon Road in Azusa. (Michael Robinson Chavez / Los Angeles Times)

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Brush fire sends a plume of smoke into the sky. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

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People watch as a smoke plume from a brush fire rises in San Gabriel Canyon above Azusa. (Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Los Angeles Times)

By Ari Bloomekatz

Sept. 25, 2013 6:58 AM PT

Fire officials now believe the Madre fire above Azusa can be contained by Friday morning, thanks to favorable weather conditions and an aggressive aerial assault.

Full containment of the fire had been expected for earlier next week.

The fire, which started Monday evening in San Gabriel Canyon north of Highway 39, is now 70% contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service. It is estimated to have burned 250 acres so far.

The aggressive air assault appeared crucial because the area is a maze of steep terrain sometimes difficult for crews to access on foot.

“Aircraft are making good progress,” Forest Service spokesman John Miller told The Times earlier Tuesday.

The number of people battling the blaze tripled from 150 on Monday to 450 on Tuesday.

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Twitter: @aribloomekatz | Facebook

ari.bloomekatz@latimes.com