News and Notes: California Fire Situation 09-01-09

Station Fire - Mount Wilson last night

Notes from the Mount Wilson Observatory: Monday, 1 Sep 09, 10:10 am PDT - Some good news. U.S. Forest Servie Fire Dispatch has informed us that as of 9:40 this morning ground crews were back at the Observatory.

As of 8:00 am, air tankers were back in operation. The dispatcher expressed his opinion to Dave that as long as the fire continues to press the mountain from one direction "you are going to make it."

Furthermore, there is some light rain developing in places in the Los Angeles basin, and there is a possibility for some thunderstorm activity that could lead to dry lightning.

The humidity is up and the temperature is a bit lower, so, all in all, things are looking more promising than they have in the last few days.

National Fire Activity
Initial attack activity: Light (143 new fires)
New large fires: 5 (*)
Large fires contained: 2
Uncontained large fires : ** 17
Area Command Teams committed: 0
NIMOs committed: 1
Type 1 IMTs committed: 3
Type 2 IMTs committed: 4
Nationally, there are 80 large fires being managed with minimal or no resource
commitment that are not shown on today’s report.
** Uncontained large fires do not include confine/contain and resource
benefit incidents. **
Link to Geographic Area daily reports.

LODD: On August 30, two Los Angeles County firefighters were fatally injured on the Station fire north of Los Angeles, California. The firefighting community extends condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.

Southern California Area (PL 3)
New fires: 6
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 5
Type 1 IMTs committed: 2
Type 2 IMTs committed: 1

Station, 5% contained, 121,622 acres, 10,000 homes threatened, Fire very actively growing., Angeles NF. Unified command between IMT1 (Dietrich) and Los Angeles County FD. Four miles north of La Canada, CA. Chaparral. Extreme fire behavior. Fire active during the day & night operational periods.Road closures and evacuations in effect. Residences and a major communications facility threatened. The fire is currently threatening Mount Wilson, area of Juniper Hills.
Damage assessments report that 18 homes have been destroyed as 10,000 remain threatened- 3,655 personnel presently deployed.

Oak Glen, CA-BDF-9598 1,012, 30% contained. At 1530 hours, the Oak Glen III IC shared resources with the Pendleton incident in Yucaipa., San Bernardino Unit, Cal Fire. AA & GA made good progress on the fire. Poor RH recovery, heavy, old fuels promoted active burning during the night. Four miles north of San Bernardino, CA. Mixed conifer, oak and chaparral. Active fire behavior. Community of Oak Glen threatened. Evacuations in effect.

Big Meadow, CA-YNP-3660 5,257 acres, 55% contained. Yosemite National Park, NPS. IMT1 (McGowan). Two miles northeast of El Portal, CA. Brush. Active fire behavior with group torching. Communities of Foresta and El Portal are threatened. Road closures and evacuations in effect. An Evacuation order remains in effect for the community of Foresta., Evacuation order for El Portal will be lifted at 12:00 today. Tioga Road closed or restricted at this time.

Morris, MORRIS CA-ANF-3616 2,168 acres 95% contained (no change since 08/29). Fire line rehabilitation is has been completed., Angeles NF. IMT2 (Woychak). Five miles north of Azusa, CA. Chaparral. Creeping and smoldering. Road closure in effect.

Pendleton, CA-BDU-9640 640 acres, 45% contained. Mandatory evacuations remain in place., San Bernardino Unit, Cal Fire. Two miles east of Yucaipa, CA. Brush. Active fire behavior. Residences threatened. Evacuations in effect.

Cottonwood, CA-BDF-11598 2,409 ACRES, 100% contained. Southern Cal So Cal IMT 3 will be released at 1800. Base Camp @ Garner Valley closing.

Northern California Area (PL 3)
New fires: 16
New large fires: 1
Uncontained large fires: 3
NIMOS committed: 1

49 Fire, 340 acres 70% Contained, Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit, Cal Fire. Four miles north of Auburn, CA. Oak and grass. Moderate fire activity. Structures threatened. Evacuations in effect. Reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping.

Red Rock, 1,382 acres 85% Contained, Klamath NF. Transfer of command from NIMO (Custer) back to local unit will occur today. Fifteen
miles west of Fort Jones, CA. Timber with heavy dead and down fuels. Backing and creeping fire.

*Hawaii* Kaunakakai, ?- acres 30% Contained, Maui FD. One mile north of Kaunakakai, HI. Timber, brush and grass. Moderate fire activity. Residences threatened. Evacuations in effect.

Weather Predictive Services Discussion: Hot and dry weather is on tap today across much of the West. There is a chance of thunderstorms over the southern California mountains, southern Sierra and the Cascades.

CA-ANF-Station 140,000+ Acres in Size, 22% Contained

Currently firing operations continuing North of Glendale mostly in previously burned areas.

The Mount Wilson webserver has gone down, most likely due to a backfire infiltration of a pull box containing telephone lines that deliver T1 internet service. The will be no more updates from the Towercam, the last one being upoaded at 13:49:06. Incident Overview

Image options: [ Enlarge ] [ Full Size ]

Structural protection crews are back in place on Mount Wilson today continuing preparation for its defense. While the mountain top is not yet out of harm's way, crews are more hopeful about its defense today after additional fuel break construction has been put in place.

The Station Fire is now estimated to be 121,762 acres. Good humidity recovery last night resulted in decreased fire activity. Winds will shift from the northeast to the southwest this afternoon and increase to 30 mph on the ridgetops whish is expected to increase fire activity later in the day. There is a possibility of afternoon thunderstorms over the San Gabriel Mountains that could result in strong downbursts of wind.

On the west flank of the fire crews manage sveral succesful burnout operations. Today crews will be working to secure these areas.

An additional fire camp to support fire operations has been set up at Central Park in Santa Clarita.

The Station Fire continues to burn within the Angeles National Forest and near surrounding foothill communities of La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Acton, Soledad Canyon, Pasadena and Glendale. The goals of the firefighters are 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. Steep terrain, decadent old growth brush and hot dry weather are factors that drive fire activity. Firefighters are working to build fireline and protect structures within areas affected by the fire.

Evacuations:

North Side Mandatory

Acton Area: There has been a mandatory evacuation of Soledad Canyon Rd. between Agua Dulce Canyon Rd. and Crown Valley Rd. There is a mandatory evacuation of the area

bounded by Soledad Canyon Rd, Aliso Canyon Rd. and Angeles Forest Highway.

National Forest: Soledad Canyon Rd./Bootlegger Canyon Rd. Area as well as Little

Rock Recreation Area, Mount Emma Rd. and Cheseboro Rd. Cima Mesa area

northwest of Juniper Hills.

North Side Voluntary

Juniper Hills Area: South of Fort Tejon Rd from Mount Emma Rd to Longview Rd.

South Side Mandatory

National Forest: There has been mandatory evacuation of the area along Big Tujunga Canyon Rd. from Mount Gleason to Angeles Forest Highway as well as the Chantry Flats.

There has been a mandatory evacuation along Little Tujunga Canyon Rd north of the Little Tujunga Ranger Station and Gold Creek Rd.

La Crescenta: Vicinity of Rosemont, La Crescenta, and Ramsdale as well as north of Rockedell, Pineridge, Mountain Pine, and Markridge Rd. NEW MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS have been issued for all residences south of Markridge Rd to Orange Ave between Pennsylvania Ave and Oceanview Blvd including Orange Cove Ave.

La Canada Flintridge: Mandatory evacuations include all residences north of Orange Ave from Pennsylvania Ave to Briggs Ave and all residences north of Oceanview Blvd north of Castle Rd.

Altadena: Evacuation orders have been lifted for the areas north of W Loma Alta Dr between Aralia Rd and Fair Oaks Ave WITH THE EXCEPTION OF Prieto Fire Rd and Millard Canyon north of Risinghill Rd which remain under mandatory evacuation orders. Chaney Tr and Alzada Dr north of Jaxine Dr also remain under mandatory evacuation orders.

Tujunga: Northwest of Day at Blue Gum Canyon Rd, To Glory Ave to westbound Apperson St to northbound Fairgrove Ave to westbound Summitrose St to northbound Pinyon Ave to westbound Hillrose St to northbound Seven Hills Dr to Lonzo St.

Glendale: Markridge St between Lowell St and Pennsylvania Ave and all residences north to the foothills.

South Side Voluntary

Glendale: North of Santa Carlotta Ave between Lowell St and Pennsylvania Ave.

Road Closures:

Angeles Crest Hwy between Palmdale and La Canada Flintridge

Osborne St @ I-210 (Incident Command Operations)

Red Rover Mine Rd. @ SR-14

Soledad Canyon Rd. @ Crown Valley Rd.

Escondido Canyon Rd.@ SR-14

Soledad Canyon Rd. @ SR-14 (exit only)

Agual Dulce Canyon Rd. @ SR-14

Placerita Canyon Rd @ Sand Canyon Rd.

Big Pines @ SR-2

Aliso Canyon @ Soledad Canyon Rd.

Angeles Forest Highway @ Mt. Emma Dr.

Red Rover Mine Rd.@ Escondido Canyon Rd.

Aliso Canyon @ Ave Y-8

Little Tujunga Canyon Rd @ Ranger Station

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

Animal shelters are located at Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, as well as the following special needs shelter. Pierce College (horses, donkeys and mules ONLY), Lancaster Animal Shelter and Agoura Animal Shelter are both accepting small animals.

As a result of extreme fire activity, and to protect public health and safety, Angeles National Forest officials are expanding the Station Fire area closure. The expanded perimeter of the closure includes the entire western portion of the main portion of the Forest south of Highway 14. (See attached map).

Approximate Personnel Assigned:3,655

Helicopters 13

Air Tanker 8 (3 additional aircraft available as needed)

Engines 399

Hand Crews 44

Dozers 48

Water Tenders 43

The Forest Service (Lead Agency) with support of Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sherriffs Department, California State Highway Patrol, Cal Trans, Los Angeles City Fire Department and other agencies is working to contain the Station Fire.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildfire
Cause	Under Investigation
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	3,655
Size	121,762 acres
Percent Contained	5%
Estimated Containment Date	Tuesday September 08th, 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	Fire remained active during the night operational period due to limited improvement in the weather.
Significant Events	Firing operations during the night operational period were successful.

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 initiate firing and burnout operations to help contain the fire.
Growth Potential	Extreme
Terrain Difficulty	Extreme
Remarks	Angeles Crest Highway remains closed and is the 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.