Crews that pull backed from direct fire attack near Cogswell reservoir due to unfavorable conditions are prepared to reinengage when conditions permit. Fire is still well within existing dozer lines.
As fire intensity is picking up in the Cogswell Dam area, but the burning is well within planned control lines. The strategy for the remainder of the afternoon shift and into this evening's shift is to continue with direct attack line construction northward into the San Gabriel Wilderness. Approximately 15 National Hotshot Crews are leading the charge and are confident in achieving success in completing this primary control line by tomorrow morning. In addition to an engine strike team being committed for structure protection, a structure protection force equipped with a Compressed Air Foam system will be staged with the engines assigned to structure protection resources.
Patrols and aggressive mop-up from established fire lines will continue. Fire line and burned area rehabilitation continues within containment areas.
A spike camp in support of 400 firefighters has been established in the Chilao Area and crews have employed coyote tactics, coyote, a progressive line construction duty involving self-sufficient crews which build fire line until the end of the operational period, remain at or near the point while off duty, and begin building fireline the next operational period where they left off.
Control line has now been completed on the west side of the fire in the Pacoima Canyon area. The new line completes previously constructed line from the north and south. The entire western end of the fire is now lined.
Successful burn operations were completed along control lines in the Bear Mountain area, south to Chilao. This burn operation has significantly reduced the wildfire threat in this area.
Control line has now been completed from Mt Wilson to and along the Rincon Truck Trail. If necessary, this line will be used to stop the fire spread into the communities of Monrovia, Sierra Madre and Duarte. At this time the fire intensity in this area is very low and the fire is spreading very slowly.
The San Gabriel Wilderness is the only area where the fire was actively burning.
Fire line and burned area rehabilitation is being started in cool areas of the Station Fire and will build up as suppression activity is completed. The power utility companies begin pole replacement in a large scale today as up to 1,000 poles have major damage or have been burned.
It has been determined that the cause of the Station Fire is arson and is now a homicide investigation If you have any information or questions please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at 323-573-2387.
The Station Fire, named because of its proximity to a nearby USFS Ranger Station has burned over 242 square miles of land within the Angeles National Forest and near surrounding foothill communities of La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Acton, Soledad Canyon, Pasadena, Glendale and Sierra Madre. The goal of the Incident Management Team is to keep the fire west of Highway 39 and Angeles Crest Highway, east of Interstate 5, south of Highway 14, Pearblossom Highway, and Highway 138, and north of the foothill communities and the Angeles National Forest Boundary. The fire is moving into areas of the forest with no recorded fire history.
If you have Google Earth, you can access the Station Fire perimeter at CA-ANF-E5VL Station 9-3-2009 2112.kml
Community Meeting
Community meeting scheduled for tomorrow in Tujunga has been canceled.
Closures:
Glendale: Dukmejian Wilderness Park
Angeles National Forest: An area closure of the southern portion of the Angeles National Forest is in effect until it is determined that it is safe to reopen forest areas. For additional information on the closure, go to [Click Here].
Open to Residents Only:
Little Tujunga Canyon Rd and Live Oak Campground Aliso Canyon Rd at Y8 Aliso Canyon Rd at Angeles Forest Hwy Little Tujunga Canyon Rd at � mile north of the Wildlife Way Station Road Closures:
Big Tujunga Rd 1 mile north of Mt Gleason Rd at the City/County line
Soledad Canyon Rd at Indian Canyon Trail Head
Angeles Crest Hwy between Big Pines Hwy and mile marker 26.7 north of Altadena
Big Pines Hwy at SR-2
Cheney Trail at Angeles National Forest gate (Loma Alta)
The following services are provided at no cost:
Evacuation Shelters: Located at Golden Valley High School and Verdugo High School.
Pet Evacuation Centers: Located at Pasadena Humane Society, Baldwin Park Animal Shelter, LA County Agoura Hills Animal Shelter.
Large Animal Evacuation Center:
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds is boarding large animals. Pierce College can only board horses, donkeys and mules.
Basic Information Incident Type Wildfire Cause Arson Date of Origin Wednesday August 26th, 2009 approx 03:30 PM Location Los Angeles River Ranger District / Angeles National Forest Incident Commander Dietrich / Bryan / Fender
Current Situation Total Personnel 4,861 Size 154,655 acres Percent Contained 49% Estimated Containment Date Tuesday September 15th, 2009 approx 06:00 PM Fuels Involved Very heavy fuels of ceanothus, chamise, scrub oak and manzanita across the entire fire area, 15 to 20 feet in height with Big Cone Douglas Fir in the drainage bottoms. Fuels have not experienced any significant large fire activity in the past 40 years.
Fire Behavior The fire exhibited extreme fire behavior in the north and east portions of the fire. Observed fire behavior included fire whirls, long range spotting and rapid rates of spread.
Significant Events There are currently no mandatory evacuations in effect.
Outlook Planned Actions Crews will prepare, and protect structures when and where necessary. Additional crews will construct handlines, improve existing lines, burnout as needed, build dozer lines and protect critical communication sites. Firefighters will continue firing and burn operations to help contain the fire.
Growth Potential Extreme
Terrain Difficulty Extreme
Remarks The Station Fire is under unified command with CIIMT5, Los Angeles County Fire and the Los Angeles County Sheriff. Angeles Crest Highway remains closed and is primary access route for camps , numerous private residences, and the Mount Wilson Communication Facility and Observatory. Multiple evacuation centers have been established. The Mount Wilson Communications is directly threatened. This facility is a major communications hub for all of Southern California.
Registered Member #659 Joined: Sat Sep 15 2007, 01:32PM : Posts: 8634
hard to believe something so ugly can also be beautiful Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
"I solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same"
WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!
Registered Member #659 Joined: Sat Sep 15 2007, 01:32PM : Posts: 8634
in case any of you missed it last night here is what it looked like.
I wonder if they are planning on dropping those trees if it gets much closer to give a defensable area for the telescope?
Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
"I solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same"
WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!
Registered Member #1675 Joined: Tue Nov 25 2008, 09:29AM : Posts: 3305
Fire crews will attempt to burn vegetation Tuesday to reduce fuels in front of the fire east of Mt. Wilson to the western end of Cogswell Reservoir. This operation will occur at a safe distance from homes and structures, with air support. No evacuations are necessary or anticipated.
Fire breaks will be improved from Bear Creek toward Mt. Waterman, the San Gabriel drainage, and at strategic locations along Forest Highway 2. Crews will construct additional fireline from Chileno Canyon north to Twin Peaks drainage. Aggressive patrol and suppression of hot spots will continue. Crews and equipment have begun repairing fireline along the west side of the fire. The repairs will consist of a number of methods to prevent erosion on roads, trails, and fuel breaks. Dirt roads will be repaired and graded as well. The main focus of operations today will be to construct and improve fireline along the eastern perimeter of the fire. As always, firefighter and public safety remains the number one priority.
Fire Name: Station
Geographic Location: Hwy. 2 North of La Canada - Flintridge, CA
This unit stops all traffic eastbound on Angles Crest. Uniformed personnel, marked units and public utility vehicles (Edison, telephone, etc.) are allowed beyond this point.
#2 (T/G 4471, 4461 -F6) ANGELES CREST HWY (SR-2) @ BIG PINES HWY.
This unit stops all traffic westbound on Angeles Crest Hwy. Uniformed personnel, marked units and public utility vehicles (Edison, telephone, etc.) are allowed beyond this point.
This unit stops all traffic westbound on Angeles Forest Hwy. Uniformed personnel, marked units and public utility vehicles (Edison, telephone, etc.) are allowed beyond this point
#4(T/G 4645-4725 F-5) BIG TUJUNGA CANYON RD. @ ANGELES FOREST HWY.
This unit stops all traffic northbound onto Angeles Forest Hwy. Law & Fire personnel are allowed beyond this point. (1230 09/07/09) Keep hard closure @ Big Tujunga Cyn Rd.
#5(T/G 503-J1) 11950 BIG TUJUNGA CANYON RD, @ MT. GLEASON
This unit stops all traffic southbound on Little Tujunga. Uniformed personnel, marked units and public utility vehicles (Edison, telephone, etc.) and RESIDENTS WITH ID are allowed beyond this point.
#6(T/G 569- A1) HWY 39 (SAN GABRIEL CANYON RD.) @ OLD SAN GABRIEL CYN. RD.
This unit stops all traffic northbound on Hwy. 39. Law & Fire personnel are allowed beyond this point.
#7(T/G 509-J5) EAST FORK RD. @ 3 MILES EAST OF HWY. 39
This unit stops all eastbound traffic onto East Fork Rd from Hwy. 39. Law & Fire personnel are allowed beyond this point.
#8(T/G 4379 G-6) BIG PINES RD @ BIG ROCK CREEK RD.
This unit stops all south bound traffic onto Big Rock Creek Rd. Law & Fire personnel are allowed beyond this point.
#9 (T/G 4723-D2) CHANEY TRAIL @ LOMA ALTA RD.
This unit stops northbound traffic on Chaney Trail. Uniformed personnel, marked units and public utility vehicles (Edison, telephone, etc.) are allowed beyond this point.
Firefighting efforts yesterday were concentrated on the east flank in the San Gabriel Wilderness and in the Mount Wilson area. Hand crews in the wilderness completed line construction from Hwy 2 down to Cogswell Reservoir thanks to the coordinated hard work and near perfect weather.
Over 400 firefighters are camped on the line to complete a hand line around a large, unburned island within the Loomis Ranch and Alder Creek drainage.
The burn operation from the back side of Mount Wilson easterly toward Cogswell Reservoir was a complete success. Hard work during these past few days should secure this fire soon. Shelly Crook, a fire behavior specialist assigned to the Station Fire, said "It's a good time to put this fire to bed!" The last of the burn operation can be seen on the Mt. Wilson Camera.
Additional video can be seen at Station Fire Videos.
Work continues around the rest of the fire to repair the damage caused by the firefighting effort as well as patrolling for hot spots.
Firefighters on the line have many types of tools in their arsenal. Most are used to starve a fire by removing the burnable materials in its path.
The Pulaski, a versatile tool used for constructing firebreaks, is named for US Forest Service Ranger Ed Pulaski, who developed, improved, popularized, and some say, invented the tool almost one hundred years ago. The Pulaski is a combination ax and mattock mounted on one handle. Firefighters use it to dig soil for trenches and chop wood. Another popular tool is also named for a US Forest Service Ranger, Malcolm McLeod, who designed a heavy duty hoe or cutting tool and rake combination in 1905. Today firefighters still use the McLeod to cut through compacted vegetation on the ground and clearing loose surface materials.
Firefighters also use shovels, axes and chain saws to remove fuel from the containment line and starve the fire. To strengthen this line firefighters sometimes burn the vegetation that remains between the line and the advancing fire. To start the burning process, firefighters use the driptorch, a canister of fuel with a burning wick, or a fusee, a type of pyrotechnic flare.
There are currently hotshot crews from 14 states on the fire. 9 states, Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming each provided a crew. Nevada provided 2, Montana 7, New Mexico 9 and Arizona 11. 81 crews call California home.
Firefighters out on the line often require additional equipment or supplies to do their work. An army of people works to support the firefighters by ordering, tracking and transporting to them everything from drinking water to generators. And what goes into the fire area must come out! While the fire is active and when it starts to wind down, the materials no longer needed must be transported back out of the fire area. This process is called backhauling.
A common item that is backhauled is 100-foot long fire hose. During the peak of activity on the Station Fire, over 13 miles of hose per day were delivered to firefighters on the line. After firefighters use the hose, it is backhauled, pressure tested for leaks, washed, dried, and rolled up.
Other items often backhauled are communication radios, repeaters, generators, packs, portable tanks, pumps, hose fittings, nozzles, ice chests, empty fuel canisters, lights to illuminate night operations, and garbage. Any broken or damaged equipment that is repairable is sent to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, where employees repair it for reuse.
Whatever firefighters can't backhaul in their fire engines is transported from the fire site in stakeside trucks and pickup trucks. Sometimes firefighters and equipment are delivered by helicopter to remote locations, and the backhaul operation must be carried out by helicopter.
It has been determined that the cause of the Station Fire is arson and is now a homicide investigation If you have any information or questions please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at 323-890-5500.
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution that offers deepest sympathy to the families of the firefighters who lost their lives in the Station Fire, honors first responders who continue to risk their lives fighting the wildfires throughout California, and expresses condolences to the individuals and families who lost their homes and other property to the wildfires. The resolution was introduced by Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas) and Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) with the support of the California delegation.
A Memorial Service for Los Angeles County Fire Department Firefighters, Fire Captain Tedmund “Ted” Hall and Firefighter Specialist Arnaldo “Arnie” Quinones, was held todat in Dodger Stadium.
The Station Fire ,named for its initial proximity to a USFS Ranger Station. The Station Fire has burned over 250 square miles of land within the Angeles National Forest and near surrounding foothill communities including La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Acton, Soledad Canyon, Pasadena, Glendale and Sierra Madre. The goal of the Incident Management Team is to keep the fire west of Highway 39 and Angeles Crest Highway, east of Interstate 5, south of Highway 14, Pearblossom Highway, and Highway 138, and north of the foothill communities and the Angeles National Forest Boundary. The fire is moving into areas of the forest with no recorded fire history. The Station Fire is now the 10th largest fire in California since 1933. For a current fire perimeter map, on Google Earth, Station Fire Perimeter And a progression map is available.
The Angeles National Forest call center is being staffed 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. For additional information, please call 626-821-6700.
According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, smoke from the Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest will cause the air quality to be unhealthy for sensitive individuals in the San Gabriel Mountains. In addition, the air quality will be unhealthy for sensitive individuals in the Santa Clarita Valley. For questions please call the LA County Info Line: 2-1-1 or County of Los Angeles Public Health.
Closures:
Glendale: Dukmejian Wilderness Park
Angeles National Forest Closure: An area closure of the southern portion of the Angeles National Forest is in effect until it is determined that it is safe to reopen forest areas. For additional information on the closure, and a map go to [Click Here] or call 626-821-6700
Closures are in effect throughout the fire area to protect the community. Please call the California Highway Patrol for further information at (323) 982-4900. For Little Rock Reservoir, call (661) 533-2424.
Flight Restrictions: Temporary flight restrictions are in place over the Station Fire.
Basic Information Incident Type Wildfire Cause Arson Date of Origin Wednesday August 26th, 2009 approx 03:30 PM Location Los Angeles River Ranger District / Angeles National Forest Incident Commander Dietrich
Current Situation Total Personnel 2,819 Size 160,557 acres Percent Contained 84% Estimated Containment Date Tuesday September 15th, 2009 approx 06:00 PM Fuels Involved Very heavy fuels of ceanothus, chamise, scrub oak and manzanita across the entire fire area, 15 to 20 feet in height with Big Cone Douglas Fir in the drainage bottoms. Fuels have not experienced any significant large fire activity in the past 40 years. The fire has burned into the San Gabriel Wilderness and Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness.
Fire Behavior Fire activity was minimal with the exception of east of Mt. Wilson where firing operations are in progress.
Significant Events Direct attack continues to be successful in the San Gabriel and Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness. Firing operations from Mt Wilson moving east are occurring..
Outlook Planned Actions Crews will prepare, and protect structures when and where necessary. Additional crews will construct handlines, improve existing lines, burnout as needed, build dozer lines and protect critical communication sites. Firefighters will continue firing and burn operations to help contain the fire. Spike camp at Central Park in Santa Clarita is closing.
Growth Potential Extreme
Terrain Difficulty Extreme
Remarks Angeles Crest Highway remains closed and is primary access route for camps, numerous private residences, and the Mount Wilson Communication Facility and Observatory.The Mount Wilson Communications is directly threatened. This facility is a major communications hub for all of Southern California. The Station Fire is under the command of CIIMT5, Incident Commander Dietrich.
Angeles National Forest Fire Information Phone: 626-821-6700 Hours: 6 :00 am - 10:00 pm Operating 24hrs Phone: 626-821-6700
Registered Member #1675 Joined: Tue Nov 25 2008, 09:29AM : Posts: 3305
Station fire update
Firefighters continue to make excellent progress. The remaining work is extremely difficult due to terrain.
The burnout operations in the area of Mt. Wilson accomplished the objective of removing extremely heavy fuel. There is still smoke in the area generally east of Mt. Wilson to Devore as undergrowth burns away.
Hot spots continue to smoke inside the burned area of Big Tujunga. A containment line is completed between residences and the "smokes," but some residents will continue to see smoke from their homes.
Crews are still mopping up hot spots along the 132 miles of line that have been constructed around the fire. The estimated containment date has been changed to September 19 to allow for additional mop up to secure the perimeter.
Commuters along Hwy. 138 and residents northeast of the fire will continue to see smoke over the next few days.
Fire suppression repair operations are ongoing. Crews and equipment are improving drainage, pulling debris from drains, knocking down dozer berms and repairing roads.
A Burn Area Emergency Response (BAER) team is assessing the burn area to determine the current and potential future impacts of the fire. Personnel have scouted the northern, western and southern areas.
Geographic Location: Hwy. 2 North of
La Canada - Flintridge, CA
Acres Burned: 160,557
Start Date: August 26, 2009
Time: 3:20 p.m.
Percent Contained: 87
Estimated Containment Date: 9/19/09
Cause: Arson
Injuries: 22
Structures Threatened: 120
Commercial Bldgs. Threatened: 0
Residences Destroyed: 89
Residences Damaged: 13
Commercial Prop. Destroyed: 26
Commercial Property Damaged: 22
Outbuildings/Other Destroyed: 94
Outbuildings/Other Damaged: 22
RESOURCES
Approximate Personnel Assigned: 1,192
Helicopters: 9
Air Tankers: Available
Engines: 32
Hand Crews: 22
Dozers: 17
Cost to Date: $92,637,805
FOREST CLOSURES: Angeles National Forest: An area closure of the southern portion of the Angeles National Forest is in effect until it is determined that it is safe to reopen forest areas. For additional information on the closure, go to [Click Here]
Current Situation Total Personnel 898 Size 160,557 acres Percent Contained 93% Estimated Containment Date Saturday September 19th, 2009 approx 06:00 PM Fuels Involved
Very heavy fuels of ceanothus, chamise, scrub oak and manzanita across the entire fire area, 15 to 20 feet in height with Big Cone Douglas Fir in the drainage bottoms. Fuels have not experienced any significant large fire activity in the past 40 years. The fire has burned into the San Gabriel Wilderness and Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness. Fire Behavior
Minimal fire behavior due to high humidity and cooler temperatures. Outlook Planned Actions
Firefighters will continue to patrol, mop-up and improve existing lines. Protect critical communication sites will be monitored. Crews will continue fire suppression repair. Growth Potential
Medium Terrain Difficulty
Extreme Remarks
Ange
les Crest Highway remains closed and is the primary access route for 18+ Camps/residences, numerous private residences, and the Mount Wilson Communication Facility and Observatory. The LA County damage assessment included 132 vehicles destroyed and 14 damaged. Southern California Incident Management Team 3 is noe in command of the Station Fire.
TYPE: WATER SALVAGE (FLOODING) AREA: BIG BEAR CITY UNITS: ME291 5XX W BIG BEAR BLVD - BBC X N BIG TREE DR S BLUE WATER RD AT THE CIRCLE K - WATER SALVAGE, BBC1 _1300924 BIGBEARCITY.,
So lets see- kids were in a tree building a fort, dropped a hammer, hit Goat in the face which caused him to crash into a camp fire where they were making fajitas thus burning his hand and getting fajita all over his shirt! Does that explain it?
La County Station Fire updates
