The latest on the Catalina Island fire
• 30-40 foot flames seen next to Avalon
• Massive evacuation underway
• Shelter set up in Long Beach
Homes lost; "0% contained"
Avalon Fire Chief Steve Hoefs said "the operation went extremely well although we had one or two firefighters who suffered smoke inhalation and were taken off the island. The fire is zero percent contained. We held the fire from expensive homes, from hotels, schools, and condominiums, we save all of those structures. We did lose a few modest homes in Avalon Canyon."
He said the operaton included five water-dropping helicopters and eight fixed-wing aircraft. Late Thursday night two hovercraft arrived from Camp Pendleton, each carrying five engines.
Hoefs said the helicopters would begin flying again about 6 a.m. He said approximately 300 to 400 residents havd been evacuated from this island "but the majority of the populaton of about 3,600 is still here." He said many of them are in the harbor area staying in businesses and homes.
-Louis Sahagun in Avalon
Hundreds expected at shelter
-Ashley Powers
Island interior also in jeopardy
Avalon Fire Chief Steve Hoefs said although much of the attention and the firefighting strategy were devoted to protecintg Avalon, "The fire continues to burn out of control in the interior of the island."
-Louis Sahagun in Avalon
Losses mount
Avalon City Councilman Scott Nelson said: "We've lost five or six small businesses in Falls Canyon and a construction company building in Birdpark Canyon." He also said that evacuees who took refuge in the casino, which is without power, have been moved to another location. Nelson said about 100 firefighters were battling the blaze and that another 200 new recruits, arriving by hovercraft and Marine helicopters, were bedding down at the airport to work the day shift in the morning. Catalina Express was also running extra boats through the night to take people off the island. -Louis Sahagun in Avalon
Structures lost
L.A. County Fire Department Inspector Sam Padilla said one city-owned commercial building has burned, along with several outbuildings. He did not know the location of the buildings. No homes have been damaged, he said.
-Rebecca Trounson
At the hospital
Bryan Ballard, CEO of Catalina Island Medical Center, said : "The hospital was evacuated at 3 p.m. and we moved our six patients into the City Council chambers," where they remained late Thursday. -Louis Sahagun in Avalon
Moving mainland
L.A. County Sheriff's Dept. Sgt. Pete Cacheiro said hundreds of people were being evacuated from Catalina on Catalina Express ferries. One carrying about 180 people had already arrived at San Pedro harbor, with another carrying about 380 soon to arrive at Long Beach Harbor. Other ferries were being loaded in Avalon Harbor. Cacheiro said those who came in on the boats would be taken to two locations: Cesar Chavez Park at 401 Golden Ave in Long Beach and San Pedro High School, 1001 W. 15th Street in San Pedro. Both were being staffed by the Red Cross, he said. Cacheiro spoke from the county's emergency operations center in East Los Angeles, which was activated late Thursday afternoon in response to the fire. -Rebecca Trounson
Homes threatened
At 8:20 p.m., Avalon Fire Chief Steve Hoefs said: "We're in danger of losing the Birdpark Canyon Housing complex of 30 to 40 homes." He also said that he had received a report that power was out at the historic landmark known as the Avalon Casino. The fire also threatened a city public works area.
Avalon City Counciman Scott Nelson said: "It was due to happen, a hundred year fire."
-Louis Sahagun in Avalon
Evacuation begins
Boats are taking hundreds of Avalon evacuees off the island to Long Beach and San Pedro. One just arrived in San Pedro, the other should arrive soon in Long Beach.
-Rebecca Trounson
Flames near fire station
Standing outside a nearly empty Avalon City Hall about 8 p.m., his hands on his hips, Joe Voci, 85, a resident of Avalon since 1956, shook his head in dismay, muttering, "The biggest mistake the Catalina Conservancy ever made was getting rid of those goats -- the goats kept the darn brush down."
About 8:10 p.m., 30- to 40-foot-high wind-whipped flames could be seen about an eighth of a mile from the entrance of the Avalon fire station at the base of the foothills as a water-dropping helicopter whirled overhead.
-Louis Sahagun in Avalon
'Looks like a volcano'
Dozens of people watched the fire from the top of Signal Hill, 26 miles away. Even from that vantage point, the wall of flames on the islands were clearly seen.
"It looks like a volcano erupting," said Kevin Lembke of Long Beach.
-Jeff Rabin
Getting very close
About 7:45 p.m., the fire had reached the edge of town. Enormous 20 to 25 foot high flames could be seen near the high school and cemetery by many residents along the corner of Beacon Street and Sumner Avenue, where there are many vintage woodframe and stucco homes.
"This is it," said resident Terri Hernandez. "It's on its way now."
CA-CDF-MVU is sending a strike team to Catalina Island via Camp Pendleton
CDF has sent three additional S2T airtankers and AA-310 along with the two heavy airtankers from San Bernardino
CA-CNF 2 strike teams of type 3 engines enroute to the Island. 6631C & 6632c.San Diego TV has just shown live video of CDF units loading on LCAC's at Camp Pendleton; looks like a couple BC's and an ST of type 3'sAir Resource request for 5/11/07 on this incident.
2 AA
2 Lead Planes
5 AT
8 rotary total of various types
Per radio traffic only.
The Catalina Island Fire is burning with extreme fire behavior and major spotting, usually seen only during the late fall fire season. Potential to burn most of Catalina Island due to rugged terrain, poor access, dry fuels and strong winds.
These early May conditions have the makings for 2007 to be a very destructive year based on the recent observed fire behavior..
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