Station Wildfire Explodes on Eastern Boundry

The fire was active again today in the Bare Mountain area. Firefighters were supplemented with plenty of air support. The two largest air tankers in the world, the DC-10 and the 747 made drops today in addition additional air tankers and helicopters. Dozer lines have been completed from Chilao north to Bare Mountain and crews are trying to take advantage of every opportunity to thin vegetation around Newcombes Ranch and Chilao.

The fire gained ground in the San Gabriel Wilderness and made a run up Chileno Canyon above Cogswell Reservoir. Large plumes were visible around 3PM. Fire behavior analyst expect that there will likely be more of the same in that area and cautioned crews to be vigilant. Crews will continue line construction, holding fire spread, and conducting burn operations if possible and as needed. The public may continue to observe smoke and occasional flame pockets during operation.

In the Mt Wilson area conditions allowed crews to go directly on the fire. Hand crews hiked in and were supported with water drops from helicopters. Progress was made in building fire line along the Rincon trail system to help prevent the fire from turning south into more populated areas.

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 230 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 Maps, you can access the fire perimeter at CA-ANF-E5VL Station 9-3-2009 0327.kml

Tonight weather will be mostly clear with temperature between 64 - 74 degrees. Tomorrow will be in the low to mid nineties and 80 to 88 degrees in the upper elevations. The weekend should bring an increasing onshore flow and a cooling trend.

Fire Conditions Across California

The August 2009 California wildfires have burned more than 322,000 acres (130,300 hectares) of land since the beginning of the month, destroying 64 houses, hundreds of structures and killing two people. Many of these wildfires continue to burn into the month of September. Although fires burned many different regions of California in August, the month was especially notable for several very large fires which burned in Southern California, despite being outside of the normal fire season for that region.

The still-burning Station Fire, north of Los Angeles, is the largest and deadliest of these wildfires, having burned more than 148,000 acres (58,300 ha) and killed two firefighters since it began in late August. Another large fire was the La Brea Fire, which burned nearly 90,000 acres (36,400 ha) in Santa Barbara County earlier in the month. A state of emergency was also declared for the 7,800 acre (3,150 ha) Lockheed Fire in Santa Cruz County to the north.

Sporadic fires are normal throughout California in the summer and fall as temperatures rise and rainfall drops, causing vegetation to die off and provide fuel for combustion. Three years of drought amplified these effects, making already fire-prone California ripe for wildfires. These fires may be ignited by natural sources like lightning, or through human activity.

In Southern California, the normal wildfire season begins in October with the arrival of the infamous Santa Ana winds, and it is unusual to see fires spread so rapidly at other times of year. However, temperatures throughout the southern part of the state exceeded 100°F (38°C) for much of late August. The combination of high temperatures, low humidity and a large quantity of tinder-dry fuel, some of which had not burnt for decades, allowed some of the normal fires to quickly explode out of control despite the lack of winds to spread the flames. These conditions, along with extreme terrain in many undeveloped areas that impeded access to burn areas, made firefighting difficult.

Notable fires

Dozens of fires burned throughout California in August 2009. Some of the most notable are listed here.

* The Corral Fire began on 13 August along Corral Hollow Road, outside the Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area, near Tracy in Alameda County. It burned 12,500 acres (5,060 ha) of dry grass before being fully contained on 16 August.[2][3]

Mariposa County

* The Big Meadow Fire began on 26 August in Big Meadow, two miles east of El Portal, just inside Yosemite National Park. This fire has burned 6,283 acres (2,542 ha) in the Mariposa County section of Yosemite, resulting in the closure of several trails, campgrounds and the portion of State Highway 120 known as Tioga Road. The community of Foresta has also been evacuated. The Big Meadow Fire is 60% contained as of 2 September, with full containment expected by 10 September.[4] This blaze was the result of a prescribed burn gone out of control, leading some to question the judgment of Park authorities.

Placer County

* The 49 Fire was a small but very destructive fire that began on 30 August and was fully contained by CalFire on 1 September. Although it burned only 343 acres (139 ha), it destroyed 63 homes and 3 commercial structures in the town of Auburn in Placer County. The cause of this fire, which began alongside State Highway 49 in Auburn, is still under investigation.

Santa Cruz/Monterey/San Benito Counties

* The Lockheed Fire began on 12 August near the Lockheed Martin Space Systems campus in Santa Cruz County.[8][9] A total of 7,817 acres (3,163 ha) burned and thirteen structures were destroyed, including four seasonal cabins but no primary residences. No cause has been identified.[10] The communities of Swanton and Bonny Doon were evacuated and a state of emergency was declared by Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi on 14 August.[11] State fire crews achieved 100% containment on 23 August, at a cost of $26.6 million (USD).[10] Many hillsides burned by the Lockheed Fire had not burned since 1948 due to active fire suppression in the area. Some plant species endemic to the area, including the endangered Santa Cruz manzanita, propagate only after fire, potentially allowing these rare species to proliferate for the first time in decades.
* The Bryson Fire started from a mobile home fire on Bryson-Hesperia Road in the Monterey County town of Lockwood. It burned 3,383 acres (1,369 ha) and five structures, including three homes, between 26 August and 28 August.[13][14]
* The Gloria Fire began on 27 August along Camphora Gloria Road near the town of Soledad. It burned 6,437 acres (2,605 ha) in Monterey and San Benito Counties, destroying a house and another structure before CalFire contained it on 31 August at a cost of $4 million (USD).[15] The fire was set off by fireworks used to scare away birds outside of a winery and a criminal investigation is underway to determine who is responsible.

Yuba County

* The Yuba Fire was started after a Red-Tailed Hawk flew into a power line on 14 August, and burned 3,891 acres (1,611 ha) before being contained on 21 August at a cost of $12.1 million (USD). Two residences in Yuba County burned and power lines transporting electricity from a hydroelectric facility were threatened.[17][18]

Other counties

Other areas of Colusa, Lassen, Plumas, Santa Clara, Shasta, and Siskiyou counties also burned in August.

Southern California

* The Morris Fire began on 25 August near Morris Dam in the Angeles National Forest. It has burned 2,168 acres (877 ha) and is 95% contained as of 2 September, with full containment expected on 3 September.[19] This fire is thought to have been caused by arson.[20]

* The Station Fire started on 26 August near the U.S. Forest Service ranger station on the Angeles Crest Highway (State Highway 2).[21][22] As of 3 September, it has burned 144,743 acres (58,575 ha) in the Angeles National Forest, destroying nearly 100 structures, including 64 homes.[23] Two firefighters were killed on 30 August when their fire truck plunged off a cliff while attempting to escape the flames.[24] The blaze threatens 12,000 structures in the National Forest and nearby communities like La Cañada Flintridge, Glendale, Acton, La Crescenta, Pasadena, Littlerock and Altadena, as well as the Sunland and Tujunga neighborhoods of the City of Los Angeles.[25] Many of these areas faced mandatory evacuations as the flames drew near, but as of 2 September, most evacuation orders have been lifted.[23] The Station Fire has been burning on the slopes of Mount Wilson, threatening numerous television, radio and cellular telephone antennas on the summit, as well as the Mount Wilson Observatory, which includes several historically significant telescopes and multimillion-dollar astronomical facilities operated by UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley and Georgia State University.[26] The cause of the fire was arson.[27] As of 2 September, improving weather conditions have helped firefighters contain 28% of the fire at a cost of $21 million (USD), although the fire remains active, especially on the eastern front.[28] U.S. Forest Service firefighters expect the fire to be fully contained by 15 September.

Santa Barbara County

* The La Brea Fire began near La Brea Creek in Santa Barbara County, inside of Los Padres National Forest.[29] A propane stove at an illegal marijuana plantation inside the National Forest is believed to have ignited the fire on 8 August. The fire burned 89,489 acres (36,215 ha) of chaparral but only destroyed two structures -- a cabin and an unused ranger station -- before being contained on 22 August.[30] The huge Zaca Fire burned in the same region in 2007, and some of the same fire lines were used to contain the La Brea Fire.[31] The plantation held approximately 30,000 marijuana plants, worth an estimated $90 million (USD). Earlier in the year, seventeen other plantations hidden in the forest had been discovered by authorities, who destroyed more than 225,000 plants worth over $675 million (USD). No suspects were captured at the site, but investigators did find an AK-47, leading them to warn the public that the suspects could be armed and dangerous.

Firefighter Memorial, LACOFD, September 12, 2009 Dodger Stadium

LODD: Two LA County Firefighters Fall in Massive Station Fire
LA Co. Fire Capt. Tedmond "Ted" Hall

Los Angeles County Firefighters and the California fire service are united in sorrow at the loss of two brother firefighters in the line of duty.

Captain Tedmund "Ted" Hall, 47, and Specialist Arnaldo "Arnie" Quinones, 35, died when their vehicle fell off an embankment during a furious backfiring effort to save dozens of others. Brother Hall was a 26-year veteran of the LA Co. Fire Department, and was the Superintendent for Fire Camp 16, which was overrun in the deadly blaze yesterday. Brother Quinones was the camp foreman, and had eight years in the fire service.

LODD: Fallen FFs Remembered For Commitment And Caring

Firefighters Fall in 'Selfless' Effort to Save Others -- Los Angeles Times

California Professional Firefighters is in contact with our brothers and sisters in LA County Firefighters Local 1014.

The thoughts and prayers of the California fire family are with the families of brothers Hall and Quinones and with all of our Los Angeles County brothers and sisters.

Memorial Services

Los Angeles County Firefighters Local 1014 and LA County Fire have announced plans to honor their fallen colleagues with a full fire service memorial.

DATE: Saturday, September 12, 2009

TIME: 10:00am

LOCATION: Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Way, Los Angeles

Station Wildfire tops 140,000 Acres

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST - The Station Fire grew to 140,150 acres last night and is 22-percent contained, officials said Wednesday morning. The eight-day-old fire has burned 62 residences, caused 6 injuries and killed two Los Angeles County firefighters.

The wildfire continued to spread in several directions yesterday. On the northern border, it spread toward Acton. On the east, it spread toward Devils Canyon, according to Rachel Mailo of the U.S. Forest Service.

The wildfire has completely destroyed the ranger station at Mill Creek, a portion of the Monte Cristo ranger station and has threatened the Angeles Crest,Clear Creek, Red Box and Chilao ranger stations.

The fire is now threatening to destroy the San Gabriel Wilderness east of Devils Canyon and has moved just below the television towers atop Mount Wilson.

Hundreds of hillside residents are still evacuated as the fire threatens homes in the urban interface.

Temperatures are expected to be lower and the relative humidity was 33 percent today.
Humidity was only about 10 percent the first six days of the fire and rose slightly Tuesday.

Air Quality Extremely Unhealthful in LA Basin

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

SMOKE ADVISORY
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 02, 2009

Smoke from the Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest continues to cause poor air quality in portions of the San Gabriel Mountains (Area 15) and the West San Gabriel Valley (Area 8). High concentrations of fine particulates are occurring in areas of direct smoke impacts near the fire, especially the foothill communities of Tujunga, La Canada,Flintridge, La Crescenta, Sunland, Montrose, Altadena and Acton. The Oak Glen and Pendleton Fires near Yucaipa have also caused areas of poor air quality. Everyone should avoid physical activity in any area heavily impacted by smoke.

While conditions have improved, smoke has settled into the valleys of Los Angeles County overnight near the fires, as well as in the eastern San Bernardino Valley. Onshore ocean breezes by the afternoon are expected to move smoke into the mountains and inland valleys. Prior to the onshore flow clearing the western Basin, smoke will linger in areas of Los Angeles County and in the eastern San Bernardino Valley near the fires.

Air quality will reach Unhealthy levels, or higher, in smoke impacted areas,especially near the fires.These areas will likely include:

• the San Gabriel Mountains (Area 15);
• the West San Gabriel Valley (Area 8);
• the West San Bernardino Mountains (Area 36);
• the Santa Clarita Valley (Area 13);
• the East San Fernando Valley (Area 7);
• the East San Gabriel Valley (Area 9);
• East San Bernardino Valley (Area 35);
• East San Bernardino Mountains (Area 38);
• Banning/San Gorgonio Pass (Area 29).

In any area impacted by smoke: Everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children
should remain indoors. Keep windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter. Run your air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean
to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.

To view current air quality conditions by region in an interactive map, see http://www2.aqmd.gov/webappl/gisaqi2/VEMap3D.aspx .

For more tips on avoiding health impacts from smoke, see http://www.aqmd.gov/ej/CAC/wildfire_safety_tips.htm on AQMD’s website.

I was battling heat and smoke today on the Station Wildfire, Angeles National Forest while covering the story for www.socalfirejournal.com. The wildfire entered the City limits of Glendale and Los Angeles today as crews tried to backfire portions of the line in the urban interface. Cooler temperatures and increased relative humidity slowed the rate of spread on the 130,000 acre wildfire. Still a large flame front could be seen from miles away.

Photos Jeff Zimmerman, Zimmerman Media LLC

Critical Information Pertaining to the Station Wildfire: Extreme rates of spread including crowning and torching were documented today at Chilao. Old growth timber was destroyed like match sticks burning in the wind today in and around the Chilao fire station and campground. Long range spotting was observed with a rotating vertical fire plume captured in hi definition video by Jeff Zimmerman of Zimmerman Media LLC. Extreme fire conditions persist in the Angeles National Forest, there has been structural and loss of human life.

A Red Flag Warning will remain in effect due to high temperatures and low humidity until 9:00 p.m. this evening. Fire behavior will be much the same as last night with active fire behavior spreading North/Northeast towards Pear Blossom and Little Rock and towards the subdivisions along I-215. The greatest fire activity is expected in the Big and Little Tujunga areas. Fire is expected to spread towards Mt. Wilson and the San Gabriel Wilderness.

The Station Fire is now estimated to be 105,296 acres. The fire is spreading east and north with some northwest spread. Firefighters are making some progression on the NW edge of the fire. Small scale firing operations to help in suppression efforts are taking place north of La Canada Flintridge and Glendale. A hotshot crew and engines from Glendale Fire Department and LA County are reporting that they are experiencing success with the mission. 65 personnel have been pulled back from Chilao Flats for safety reasons. Crews, engines, water tenders are working in the Mt. Wilson area.

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:

Juniper Hills Area: LA County Sheriff Department is issuing evacuation warnings for All homes in the Juniper Hills area north of Juniper Hills Rd between Emma Rd, Fort Tejon Rd and Longview Rd.

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.

La Crescenta: All previous evacuations remain in effect. NEW MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS HAVE BEEN ISSUED for all residences south of Markridge Rd to Orange Ave between Pennsylvania Ave and Ocean View Blvd INCLUDING Orange Cove Ave.

MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS for all residences north of Rockdell St and Faircrest Dr between Rosemont Ave and the foothills.

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 Trail and Alzada Dr north of Jaxine Dr also remain under mandatory evacuation orders.

Evacuations centers operated by the Red Cross:

La Canada High School, 4463 Oak Grove Ave. La Canada, CA

Crescenta Valley High School, 2900 Community Ave. La Cresenta, CA

Verdugo High School, 10625 Plain View Ave. Tujunga, CA

Marie Kerr Park Recreation Center, 39700 30th St. West, Palmdale, CA

Golden Valley High School, 27051 Robert C. Lee Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA

Please call 310-943-5220 for additional information on evacuation centers.

4,300 structures have been evacuated as of 4:35 p.m. this afternoon.

Road Closures:

Red Rover Mine Rd. @ SR-14

Soledad Canyon Rd. @ Crown Valley Rd.

Escondido Rd.@ SR-14

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

Agual Dulce Canyon Rd. @ SR-14

Placerita @ Sand Canyon Rd.

Big Pines @ SR-2

Aliso Canyon @ Soledad Canyon Rd.

Angeles Forest Highway @ Mt. Emma Rd.

Red Rover Mine Rd.@ Escondido Rd.

Aliso Canyon @ Ave Y-8

Little Tujunga @ Ranger Station

Open to Residents Only:

Lake Blvd. to JPL and south of Cheyney Tr.

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) This closure is effective 6:00 p.m. today and will last until the Station Fire has been fully contained.

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 Michael Dietrich
Current Situation
Total Personnel 3,655
Size 105,296 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 behavior was extremewith long range spottin and plume dominated fire behavior on two fronts, North and West.
Significant Events

Mandatory Evacuations are in effect for the Verdugo Crestline North area in the City of Los Angeles and Glendale.
Outlook
Planned Actions

Crews will prepare and protect structures when and where necessary including critical communication sites.Fire fighters will construct handlines, dozer lines and begin firing operations to help contain the fire. Existing lines will be improved.
Growth Potential

Extreme. The fire in the Acton area has spread down to the lower slopes adjacent to the road.
Terrain Difficulty

Extremely steep and inaccessible
Remarks

Angeles Crest Highway remains closed and is the primary access route for numerous private residences and the Mount Wilson Communication Facility and Observatory. Multiple evacuation centers have been established. The Red Flag warning will expire at 9:00 p.m. the evening.