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
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. |
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