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Southern California Fire Journal.Com

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Winds Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Watching for offshore flow to warm the So Cal area after the low pressure moves out on Mondy. Temps may hit ow 90's this week with gusty offshore winds. Wetting rain has increased fuel moistures but strong winds can reverse fuel moistures quickly. Happy Halloween everyone. Let's stay safe.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

1993 Ortega Highway Wildfire

Title: 1993 Ortega Fire

Date: Wednesday October 27, 2010

Location: Ortega Highway/Cleveland National Forest (Riverside/Orange Counties)
Notes: Late this afternoon in 1993 a fire began in the Cleveland National Forest in Riverside County and driven by Santa Ana Winds burned over into Orange County destroying 22 homes and USFS cabins in Rancho Carrillo and burning over 10,000 acres.

1993 Big Bend Wildfire

Title: 1993 Big Bend (Laguna Beach) Fire

Date: Wednesday October 27, 2010

Location: Laguna Canyon/Laguna Beach/Orange County
Notes: The Laguna Fire (Big Bend Incident) began early in the afternoon on this date in 1993 near the junction of the Santa Ana Freeway and Laguna Canyon Road and driven by strong Santa Ana Winds burned all the way to the sea even jumping Pacific Coast Highway.
This arson-caused fire damaged or destroyed 441 homes and scorched 14,337 acres but fortunately killed or seriously injured nobody.

Steckel Park Wildfire

Title: 1993 Steckel Park Fire

Date: Wednesday October 27, 2010

Location: Santa Paula/Ventura County
Notes: Early this morning in 1993 Santa Ana Winds fanned this fire which burned 8 homes and ultimately consumed 26,500 acres between Santa Paula and Ventura.

Paradise Wildfire

Title: 2003 Paradise Fire

Date: Tuesday October 26, 2010

Location: Valley Center/San Diego County
Notes: Early this morning in 2003 this fire began and drive by fierce Santa Ana Winds it charged across 56,700 acres and destroyed 221 homes, 192 outbuildings, 2 businesses, and 75 vehicles.

Esperanza Wildfire, A Tragic Day

Title: 2006 Esperanza Fire

Date: October 26, 2010

Location: Cabazon/Riverside County
Notes: In the wee hours of this morning in 2006 an arsonist's fire began near Cabazon and strong Santa Ana Winds fanned it southward through 41,173 acres of wildland where a few hours into the incident it overwhelmed and wiped out an entire 5-person USFS engine company based on the San Bernardino NF (Engine 57) which at the time was conducting structure protection for an isolated compound located at the head of a drainage up which the fire rapidly burned through.
Ultimately, the fire consumed 34 homes and 20 outbuildings.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

October a Dangerous Month for Wildfires

Title: 1993 Ortega Fire

Location: Ortega Highway/Cleveland National Forest (Riverside/Orange Counties)
Notes: Late this afternoon in 1993 a fire began in the Cleveland National Forest in Riverside County and driven by Santa Ana Winds burned over into Orange County destroying 22 homes and USFS cabins in Rancho Carrillo and burning over 10,000 acres.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Gusty North East Winds For Wednesday

Gust winds for LA, Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties for WEDNESDAY. Hightened fire danger for the Southland. Todays fire on Interstate 5 was held at 17 acres. A fire in San Luis Obispo County on Hwy 46 near the Kern County line ran 350 acres.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Santa Ana's have Not Surfaced This Year Compared to Previous Years

On This Date In California Weather History....

2003: Santa Ana winds started on this day and ended on 10.27.
Gusts of 56 mph were measured at Descanso, 46 mph
in Anza, 45 mph in Ontario, 43 mph at Fremont Canyon, 41 mph in Beaumont, and 40 mph in Campo.
Unprecedented wildfires, including the Cedar, Paradise and Otay Fires consumed hundreds of thousands of acres, killed over 20
people and caused over one billion dollars in damage.
The Cedar Fire itself consumed more than 280,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire in California history, and killed 16.
This is the also the second costliest fire in U.S. History (the costliest fire was the Oakland Fire of 1991).
Title: 2003 Old Fire

Date: Monday October 25, 2003

Location: San Bernardino Mountains-National Forest-San Bernardino County
Notes: On this morning in 2003 an arsonist started a fire in Waterman Canyon on the south face of the San Bernardino Mountains which driven by powerful Santa Ana Winds pushed it down into foothill communities like Highland and Del Rosa and the northern reaches of the City of San Bernardino.

Subsequently, this fire ran up into the San Bernardino Mountains and burned into communities like Crestline, Running Springs and Lake Arrowhead.
Ultimately, it consumed 91,281 acres, 993 homes, and killed 6 people

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Wind Warning Interstate 5 Corridor

IT LOOKS LIKE WINDS WILL INCREASE TO ADVISORY LEVELS FOR THE L.A./VTU MTNS LATE TONIGHT INTO MON...AND AGAIN ON TUE...BUT SHOULD REMAIN BELOW WARNING THRESHOLDS EXCEPT ON A LOCAL BASIS AS SOME WINDS GUSTS COULD REACH 60 MPH ESPECIALLY LATE TONIGHT AND MON. THE STRONGEST WINDS SHOULD BE ALONG THE I-5 CORRIDOR IN NW L.A. COUNTY. A WIND ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE L.A/VTU MTNS...PLEASE SEE LAXNPWLOX FOR DETAILS. IN ADDITION...NORTHERLY CANYON WINDS SHOULD INCREASE TO ADVISORY LEVELS BY MON EVENING AND AGAIN LATER TUE AND TUE EVENING OVER THE SANTA YNEZ RANGE AND ALONG THE SBA S COAST...WITH ADDITIONAL WIND ADVISORIES LIKELY TO BE ISSUED BY MON FOR THIS AREA. THE WINDS ARE FORECASTED TO SWING AROUND MORE TO THE NORTHEAST LATER TUE NIGHT AND WED...WITH GUSTY CANYON WINDS EXPECTED BELOW AND THRU THE FAVORED PASSES AND CANYONS.

Electrocution and Explosion

Man dies, woman injured, while trying to steal copper tubing, police say
By Daily News Wire Services
Posted: 10/23/2010 11:48:00 PM PDT
Updated: 10/23/2010 11:53:09 PM PDT


SOUTH GATE — A man died and a woman was critically burned Saturday, apparently while trying to steal copper wire from an electrical vault that exploded in South Gate, and their two young children, who were at the scene, were placed in protective custody, police said.

The explosion was reported at 4:14 p.m. near 3064 Firestone Blvd., according to the South Gate Police Department.

Arriving officers found two people next to a burning electrical vault, police said.

The man died at the scene and the woman was taken to St. Francis Medical Center with critical burns. She was later transferred to the Grossman Burn Center.

Investigators believe they were trying to steal copper wire from the electrical vault when the explosion occurred.

Two children, ages 3 and 6, were in a truck parked near the victims. They were taken into protective custody until relatives could be located.

Police believe the children were the couple's children.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Piru Wildfire Anniversary

2003 Piru Fire

Location: Piru/Fillmore/Los Padres NF/Ventura Co.
Notes: This afternoon in 2007 a fire began near Lake Piru and driven by fierce Santa Ana Winds pushed through the Topatopa Mountains to Hwy. 126 and bumped up against the town of Fillmore.

In all, 63,991 acres were consumed along with 8 strucutures.

Poomcha Wildfire

Title: 2007 Poomacha Fire

Date: Saturday October 23, 2010
Location: Palomar Mountain/San Diego County
Notes: In the wee hours of this morning in 2007 this fire began in a structure on the La Jolla Indian Reservation.Driven by fierce Santa Ana Winds it moved off the reservation and onto Palomar Mountain and beyond.

It ultimately charred 50,176 acres, 143 homes and 77 outbuildings.
This fire also injured 21 firefighters.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Healing from the Ashes Art Exhibit Benefits Station Fire Victims






Press Release: October 21, 2010

The closing ceremony and silent auction of Healing from the Ashes proved to be very moving and meaningful experience for all who attended. The dynamic art exhibit in Sunland Tujunga featured mixed media art created from remnants of homes destroyed in the Station Fire in 2009. The Station Fire was one of Los Angeles County’s most destructive wildfires impacting more than ninety homeowners who live in or who border the Angeles National Forest.

Naturalist Corina Roberts said that the Station Fire respected no boundaries; natural or man-made, it consumed everything in its path, no habitat was spared, it burned in creek beds, chaparral communities and every species of trees in the Forest. The fire grew into a monster destroying over 160,000 acres of watershed. Corina has documented the early recovery process as nature has intended, but she said the forest will look drastically different than before the fire. Many species are thriving but it will be years before we see the timber recover to a mature state. So far the recovery rate for the forest has been acceptable to Forest Service officials but the recovery efforts for homeowners who lost everything has been painfully slow.

In order to help fire victims, local artist and curator Ariyana Gibbon and several volunteers collected articles from incinerated homes in the Vogel Flats region of Big Tujunga Canyon shortly after the wildfire. Local artist were then asked to make art pieces from the ruins for public auction, in order to aid strugling fire victims.

Ariyana painstakingly collected chunks of molten glass and metal, ceramic tile, dishes, kick- knacks, charred wood, stone and other materials from charcoal pits of total destruction. She asked 30 local artists to assist her in the project; to donate their extraordinary talents in designing sculptures, paintings, mosaics and very unusual art pieces. The pieces were auctioned to collectors who were privileged to acquire one of kind art pieces of historical importance from the Station Fire.

Aryiana said that the proceeds are going to help fire victims who lost everything. One victim said, she had lost her home, her job, and has lost her sense of purpose and place following the fire. We know that the forest will recover from the fire, but the toll to human life, health and welfare is unimaginable and is a very slow and tedious recovery process.

It is difficult to look at innocent fire victims in the eyes to see their pain and suffering, they have lost everything. Their clothes, family heirlooms, their lively hoods and some patrons had been critically burned. We know that the small donations are just a start in the recovery process.

After videotaping the Station Fire for nine long days and narrowly becoming entrapped by the speed and intensity of the fire I am thankful to be alive. In an effort to help those in need, I purchased a few of the items during the silent auction.

The most notable is a unique piece of art called Cosmic Dancer from artist Edward Lee Goldstein. His concept was to take tiny pieces of glass from a shattered tiffany lamp and shards of mirror from the burned home of Ben and Jeanie Fury and form them into a sculpture of a dancer rising from the ashes. The dancer rests a top a piece of granite, portraying a graceful and elegant figure dancing her way to a new beginning. It is a truly one of a kind art piece that has such profound meaning not only to the artist but to the Fury family and myself. It is very strange to see such a beautiful piece of art come out of such a tragic event.

The artist, Edward Goldstein defines himself as a healer, educator, artist and student of life. His art piece, Cosmic Dancer will be prominently displayed in my home near a sculpture from Joyce Killebrew, who designed the Storm King Mountain Memorial in Glenwood Springs Colorado.

Inquiries regarding Healing from the Ashes can be made via email:HealingFromTheAshes@live.com, www.HealingFromTheAshes.org or by calling 818-445-1675. Healing from The Ashes is a Non Profit Organization.

Photos Pictured Jeanie Fury, Edward Goldstein and Jeff Zimmerman, special thanks to Max Warner for taking our picture at the reception.

Additional Photos of Vogel Flats as it appears today. Photos Copyright Jeff Zimmerman

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Grand Prix and Old Wildfires

Title: 2003 Grand Prix Fire

Location: Inland Empire/San Bernardino County
Notes: On this afternoon in 2003 an arson-caused fire started in the hills above Fontana and burned up into the eastern San Gabriel Mountain foothills threatening Lytle Creek.

In three days strong Santa Ana Winds will drive it down into the the foothill communities of Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Claremont, and La Verne charring 59,448 acres and 135 homes.

Harmony Grove Wildfire

Title: 1996 Harmony Grove Fire

Location: Harmony Grove/Elfin Forest/Escondido/San Diego Co.
Notes: On this afternoon in 1996 a fire began at the western edge of Escondido.

Driven by strong Santa Ana Winds it burned through 8,600 acres and 100 homes before it was contained.

Buckweed Wildfire

Title: 2007 Buckweed Fire

Date: Thursday October 21, 2010
Time: 1:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Location: Santa Clarita Valley/Los Angeles County
Notes: This afternoon in 2007 an older child playing with matches started this fire which drive by hurricane-force Santa Ana Wind spread over 38,356 acres and destroyed 63 structures including many homes. This fire destroyed the Angeles Forest District office in Saugus CA. Four people were injured.

Aircraft Crash, Two People and Two Horses Dead


Agua Dulce CA: A light plane has crashed in Agua Dulce CA at 33214 Canyon Quail Trail. Two people and several horses have been pronounced dead at the scene. Animal control workers evacuated several horses for medical care. The air craft was flying in poor visibility and may have lost power on approach to Agua Dulce Airport. It is reported that the aircraft has struck a barn before hitting the ground Photos Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC, 773 Vandal Way, Palmdale CA 93551 805-423-3499, photo payment of $50.00 per image made payable to Zimmerman Media LLC, 773 Vandal Way Palmdale CA 93551. Photographer Jeff Zimmerman

Caption Homeowners and family members help to check the welfare of horses struck by the downed aircraft at 33214 Canyon Quail Trail, Agua Dulce CA

Oakland Hills Disaster

Title: 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm

Date: Wednesday October 20, 2010
Time: 11:00 am - 11:00 am

Location: East Bay Hills of Alameda Co./Oakland/Berkeley
Notes: On this date in 1991 a powerful Diablo Wind Event featuring tropical storm force winds fanned a small smoldering fire on patrol status that had started and been contained the day before into a raging monster that killed 25 people (including both a firefighter and a policeman) and injured another 150 people, damaged or destroyed 3,354 single family dwellings and 437 multi-family dwellings, and scorched 1,520 acres costing a grand total of about $1.5 billion in 1991 dollars.

Harris Wildfire

Title: 2007 Harris Fire

Date: Thursday October 21, 2010
Time: 9:30 am - 9:30 am
Location: San Diego County

Notes: On this morning in 2007 hurricane-force Santa Ana Winds drove this fire from near the Mexican border over 90,440 acres to threaten Chula Vista and destroy 206 homes and kill one civilian and four members of a CalFire engine company and possibly four Mexican migrant workers.

Calabasas Wildfire

Title: 1996 Calabasas Fire

Date: Thursday October 21, 2010
Time: 11:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: Santa Monica Mountains/Malibu/Los Angeles County
Notes: This morning in 1996 strong Santa Ana Winds drove a small fire started alongside the south side of US101 as a result of downed powerlines over 13,000 acres to the sea.

As a result, 6 homes were destroyed and various parts of Malibu and Calabasas and isolated communities in the Santa Monica Mnts. as well as Pepperdine University were threatened. Damage and additional fire spread were limited by the Old Topanga Burn area adjacent to the east as well as fuel mitigation efforts prompted by that fire as well as the less populated nature of the burn area in comparison to previous and later fires in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Witch Fire

Title: 2007 Witch Creek Fire

Date: Thursday October 21, 2010
Time: 11:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: San Diego County
Notes: On this morning in 2007, hurricane-force Santa Ana Winds drove this fire from its origin in Witch Creek Canyon to ultimately threaten Ramona, Escondido, Julian, Poway, Scripps Ranch and other areas. This fire charred 197,990 acres and destroyed 1,040 homes and 414 outbuildings while killing two people and injuring 41 others.

Ranch Fire Remembered

Title: 2007 Ranch Fire

Date: Wednesday October 20, 2010
Time: 9:45 pm - 10:45 pm
Location: Santa Clarita Valley/Los Angeles County
Notes: This evening in 2007 strong Santa Ana Winds fanned this fire which ultimately charred 58,401 acres straddling the LA/Ventura County lines as well as the Angeles NF/Los Padres NF forest boundary and surrounded Piru and threatened Fillmore.

This fire destroyed 1 home and 9 outbuildings.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Electrical Storms Striking Southland




Electrical storms have been striking Southern California as a very moist south west air flow is coming up from Mexico. Electrical storms have knocked out power and have struck buildings in the southland. Heavy rain and minor flooding issues have been reported. More storms are on the way for tonight for the Antelope Valley.

Images Copyright Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Firefighters Halt Brush Fire to Half Acre, Agua Dulce CA



A quick response by Los Angeles County and United States Forest Service Firefighters halt a brush fire at one half acre at the intersection of Sierra Highway and Pepper Tree Lane in Agua Dulce CA on October 17, 2010.

At approximately 10 am firefighters from County Engine 81 and Angeles Engine 33 found a fast moving grass and brush fire burning near an abonded house in the rural town of Agua Dulce. County and Federal Firefighters worked shoulder to shoulder to halt the blaze before it became a major incident. Contract Cl 415 air craft from Quebec Canada made several drops on the fire using class A injected foam.

Photos Copyright Jeff Zimmerman

Vehicle Accident, Entrapment Agua Dulce CA


Firefighters from Los Angeles County Stations 104 and 123 work to free a trapped driver in 100 degree heat on the north bound 14 Freeway near Escondido Canyon Rd on September 27, 2010. The driver lost control and went off the 14 Freeway, rolling several times, crushing the roof and coming to rest on its side in the thick brush. Firefighters were concerned about the threat of wildfire and ordered additional resources to help assist with the extrication. County Firefighters freed the driver using hydraulic rescue tools and saws alls at approximately 2:27 pm.

The accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

Photos Copyright Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC

Vehicle Accident, Entrapment, Palmdale CA


Los Angeles County Firefighters from Stations 131 and 24 responded to a vehicle accident this morning just before 08:00 am on Pearblossom Highway at the intersection of Rodeo St. Upon arrival firefighters found that a pick up truck had sheared a telephone pole, a telephone utility box, smashed through a chain link fence and landed on its side. The patient was in critical condition. Firefighters using hydraulic rescue tools freed the driver and intitated advanced life support. The accident is under investigation by Los Angeles county Sheriffs Department.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Slight Chance of Lightning on Thursday and Friday

...SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS WITH DRY LIGHTNING THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY ACROSS THE LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA MOUNTAINS AND ANTELOPE VALLEY...

NearRed Flag Condions for LA County

...GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS AND SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE VALLEYS...MOUNTAINS...AND DESERTS TODAY... .DISCUSSION...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION THIS MORNING HAS GENERATED GUSTY OFFSHORE WINDS ACROSS THE VALLEYS AND MOUNTAINS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS FOCUSED BELOW PASSES AND CANYONS IN LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES. WIND GUSTS BETWEEN 25 AND 35 MPH WILL BE COMMON THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON ACROSS THESE AREAS...WITH LOCAL GUSTS OVER 40 MPH LIKELY THROUGH FAVORED MOUNTAIN PASSES.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Lightning in Southern California



As monsoonal moisture funneled up the interior of California, lightning formed over the mountains and deserts as predicted. Small fires erupted however most have been contained. I am following this storm activity closely since it was an unusual event late in the season. Tracking the systems on radar provided use full information for monitoring future storms.
storms formed in San Diego, LA, Ventura and Kern Counties.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Severe Thunderstorms Predicted for LA County

Los Angeles County CA: Sevre Weather, Thunderstorms East LA County, Antelope Valley, Ssanta Clarita CA. Downstrikes in El Monte and Glendora at 10:00am Storming moving north/west. EPN Channels 1 and 6.