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The Los Angeles Station wildfire that took the lives of two firefighters over the weekend and damaged more than 50 homes spread rapidly Monday night, now covering close to 122,000 acres and continuing to threaten communication equipment on Mount Wilson as well as the Mount Wilson Observatory. The Los Angeles County Fire Department estimated Tuesday that the Station fire was only about 5 percent contained and could burn for another week.

But officials expressed some optimism after the fire's rapid growth early in the week began to slow late Monday and forecasters predicted a slight rise in humidity.

Although an investigation into the deaths of Fire Captain Tedmund "Ted" Hall and Firefighter Specialist Arnie Quinones on Sunday is just beginning, the Los Angeles Times reported that the men are believed to have died trying to rescue 55 inmates and several other corrections personnel at a remote prison camp in the Angeles National Forest.

Hall and Quinones are believed to have been moving their truck to find a safe route down from their mountain camp which was being threatened on all sides by fire, when their vehicle was overtaken by flames and eventually plunged 800 feet into a canyon below.

Messages of support for the families and coworkers of Hall and Quinones have been pouring in.

"Fire Captain Ted Hall and Fire Specialist Arnie Quinones were extraordinary California heroes who worked tirelessly to protect our communities," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote in a statement on his website. "They will be forever remembered by the people of California for their selfless and heroic work."

U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein also expressed condolences on her site. "My heart goes out to the families of fire Captain Tedmund Hall and firefighter Arnaldo Quinones, and to the men and women of the Los Angeles County Fire Department," she wrote. "These brave men put their lives on the line to protect the lives and property of others. I know I speak for all Californians when I say I am deeply grateful for their service, and deeply saddened by their deaths."

Close to 3,700 fire personnel from the U.S. Forest Service, L.A. County Fire Department, L.A. City Fire Department and others are battling the the Station fire.

Despite the fire's slower growth and an increase in humidity, the direction of the fire since Monday has increased the threat to residential communities in the Antelope, Santa Clarita and San Gabriel valleys.

An expected increase wind at high altitudes and a slight chance of a thunderstorm in the San Gabriel Valley are expected this afternoon and could accelerate the Station fire, country fire officials said.

Many schools remained closed Tuesday, and about 6,000 homes have been placed under mandatory evacuation orders since the fire began last week. The orders spanned much of Juniper Hills, Tujunga, La Crescenta, and Altadena. 12,000 homes and 500 commercial structures remain threatened.

Evacuation shelters are located at La Canada High School, La Crescenta Valley High School, Golden Valley High School, the recreation building at Marie Kerr Park and Verdugo High School.

Animal Shelters have been set up at Pasadena Humane Society, Baldwin Park Shelter, LA County Agora Hills Animal Shelter. Antelope Valley Fairgrounds will accept all large animals. Pierce College are accepting horses, donkeys and mules. Lancaster Animal Shelter and Agoura Animal Shelter are both accepting small animals.

An eye-opening time-lapse video (90 minutes
in 24 seconds) of the widfire in action on Sunday -LA Observed.

Want to see the blaze in the night? -LAist

What do the fire departments mean when they talk about what percent of a wildfire is contained? Check out this helpful glossary of wildfire terminology. -LAist

Check Update L.A. for more on the evolving story and all mandatory evacuations.

For more updates and photos of the fire in action, check out the Station Fire's Facebook page.