September 2nd, 2009: LA Times Photo Gallery of the Station Fire.
There are several active fires in California right how. However, the Associated Press is reporting that Sunday evening, in the Station Fire north of La Canada/Flintridge and south of Acton, two firefighters lost their lives on Mount Wilson after the vehicle they were in rolled over.
There there are numerous radio, TV and cell phone towers on Mount Gleason that are threatened. The Station Fire has burned over 42,000 acres. It is only 5% contained as I write. Thousands have been ordered to evacuate as over 12,000 homes are in the path of the blaze.
Update!
At least 18 structures have been destroyed by the Station Fire with more in danger today as the fire is predicted to spread and increase in size with the increased dry heat conditions.
Update!
The Station Fire had doubled in size overnight to 85,000 acres. At the current time, Mt. Wilson appears to be safe. LA Now Blog Update
Update! 106,000 acres burned and only 5% contained as of 6:00 pm, August 31st.
Update! September 1st, 2009 It appears Mount Wilson Observatory will be saved.
Thousands Flee Wildfires
Firefighter Hourly
California Dept. of Forestry, Fire Information
Map of Station Fire
LA County Fire Grows Overnight
Updated Fire Map
Monday, August 31, 2009
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8 comments:
The fires are really bad. The smoke is really bad. And once again, we see evidence of how firefighters cannot effectively fight fires from the get-go. They always believe they can get a handle on it before it goes crazy, but they can't. If they only took the big tankers out at the start and attack it aggressively, they could prevent these annual disasters. This really upsets me because I live in the middle of this. To make it worse, the state and city regulates our water useage, and the lack of water on plants creates more of a fire hazard. All of this burns up more of our money, too. Really bad management!
Now our telecommunications transmission towers and the Mt. Wilson Observatory are in serious jeopardy. This is the birth place of modern astronomy, where black holes were discovered, where Einstein expanded his theory of the size of the universe, and where the magnetic field of the sun is still being studied. Where are the tankers near Mt. Wilson?
I dont think really there is much firefighters can do with wildfires like these. Its a force of nature (unless its arson of course).
What is upsetting me is reading the news of the people that refuse to evacuate when they are asked to. When the fire sets upon them I assume they are going want to be rescued.
My younger brother lives in Sunland... is that yet to be evacuated?? I talked with him yesterday - so just checking here if one of you are close to the "action" there.
We had a fire up here in Auburn, the 49 Fire - Sunday/Monday - and it burned 60 houses/businesses, 340 acres. And I have to agree with what Nora said... they could have stopped THIS fire also with forward thinking... not that many house would have burned up here!
Niner
I think they should create a underground irrigation system that will be high pressured and only set to turn on during a disaster such as this one with the wild fires spreading. According to the history of wildfires In LA it's always the same area and the same issues at this point we must move forward with something that will act fast during a crisis as this one, I believe if they spend over 1 billion on something that will save homes and save life's it will go on a good standing with others. Stop the fires save a life simple as that.
Hi Niner,
I've not heard anything about evacuating Sunland, which is at the western edge of that ridgeline. The weather is an improvement today, which allowed the firefigher's to make some headway overnight.
Here's a short piece from the Los Angeles Times, update 3 hours ago.
QUOTE:
Despite the fire's sprawling dimensions, stretching up to 25 miles from east to west and 18 miles from north to south, aggressive ground and aerial assaults managed to confine the blaze to largely undeveloped areas. Losses from the fire rose Monday when officials learned that more than 30 cabins, homes and other structures were destroyed in the remote Big Tujunga Canyon area.
WOW guys, my heart goes out to you all. We deal with hurricanes, but fires are soooo scary. We have had random fires here in early spring, but nothing like you have in Cali. Please everyone....stay safe and I hope they get things under control soon.
Just heard that this fire has been declared arson. This is now a homocide investigation.
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