SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters have gained more ground as they work to surround the Blue Cut fire east of Los Angeles. The blaze is 26 percent contained Friday morning, up from 22 percent, and open flame is confined to pockets of the fire, which has scorched more than 50 square miles. Fire spokesman Brad Pitassi says some of the nearly 1,600 personnel working the fire will be demobilized Friday afternoon. Pitassi cautions, however, that there remains potential for explosive fire behavior. This blaze has ravaged pine forests near the California ski town of Wrightwood, but only half of its more than 4,500 residents had heeded mandatory evacuation orders. Officials say it was another example of a disturbing trend in the state as infernos speed through drought-starved vegetation during what could be California's most hazardous fire season on record.