Calif Fires Beat Clunker Boost Any Day!
Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 5:48 AM PDT (12:48 UTC)
From InciWeb and other sources:
The Station Fire started off Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2) about one mile above Angeles Crest Fire Station around 3:30pm Wednesday August 26, 2009. Angeles Crest Highway, Tujunga Canyon and Big Tujunga Canyon roads are closed. As a result of extreme fire activity, and to protect public health and safety, Angeles National Forest officials implementing an area closure for lands in the vicinity of the fire. This closure is in effect until canceled.
3 injuries have been reported. Residents are advised to be ready to evacuate if they are near the fire boundary.
As of 8:00 p.m. Saturday evening the fire is moving very quickly to the north towards Acton. If the fire continues on this aggressive path it could be very near Acton by early morning.
Station Fire: Location Map. Google Map may be subject to copyright.
Flames from the Station Fire are seen above the NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in La Canada, California August 28, 2009. REUTERS/Rod Seward. Image may be subject to copyright.
Fire Stats:
- Size: 20,500 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: The fire quadrupled in size driven by SE winds. Saturday behavior was extremely active with rapid rates of spread and flame lengths up to 80 feet. There is a potential for Sunday’s fire behavior to be similar to Saturday. Upslope winds are likely. Spotting may occur from 1/4 mile up to 1/2 mile.
- Significant Events: Mandatory Evacuations are in effect for over 10,000 homes. The fire is threatening the Mount Wilson Communications Facilities and Observatory.
The Station fire in the Angeles National Forest has tripled in size today, spreading rapidly to the east and west this afternoon, and prompting the evacuation of at least 4,000 homes in a broad swath of foothill neighborhoods in areas including La Cañada Flintridge, Glendale, Altadena and Big Tujunga Canyon as temperatures reached triple digits and flames drew closer to houses. Photo credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times. Caption: LA Times.
Other Remarks
- Growth Potential: Extreme
- Threatened:
- 10,000 homes threatened.
- 500 commercial properties
- 2,000 other structures threatened.
Current Weather:
- Wind Conditions 6-12 mph SE
- Temperature 100 degrees
- Humidity 7%
Other Fires
Gloria Fire:
- Date/Time Started: August 27, 2009 2:57 pm
- County: Monterey & San Benito County
- Location: Northeast of Soledad
- Acres Burned: 6,437 acres
- Containment 6,437 acres – 60% contained
- Structures Destroyed: 1 residence and 1 outbuilding destroyed
- Threatened: There are approximately 100 homes threatened by the fire.
- Evacuations: All evacuations have been lifted on Highway 146, Bryant Canyon and Stonewall Road.
- Total Fire Personnel: 1,083
- Engines: 110
- Fire crews: 32
- Airtankers: 3
- Helicopters: 5
- Dozers: 26
- Water tenders: 8
- Costs to date: $2.5 million [The Cheap Fire!]
Pacheco Fire
- County: Santa Clara County
- Location: Pacheco Pass Road near Dinosaur Point
- Status/Notes: 1,650 acres – 50% contained
- Date Started: August 29, 2009 2:20 pm
- Total Fire Personnel: 389
- Engines: 40
- Fire crews: 5
- Airtankers: 4
- Helicopters: 3
- Dozers: 4
- Water tenders: 3
Big Meadow Fire:
- County: Mariposa County
- Location: Foresta Community
- Administrative Unit: Yosemite National Park
- Status/Notes: 3,506 acres – 30% contained
- Date Started: August 26, 2009 12:08 pm
Cottonwood Fire:
- County: Riverside County
- Location: Highway 74 cross of Bee Canyon
- Status/Notes: 2,290 acres – 30% containment
- Date Started: August 27, 2009 5:13 pm
- Total Personnel 698
Red Rock Fire:
- Name: Red Rock Fire
- County: Siskiyou County
- Location: 15 miles west of Fort Jones, CA
- Administrative Unit: Klamath National Forest
- Status/Notes: 1,373 acres – 80% contained
- Date Started: August 21, 2009 6:40 pm
Related Links and Previous Entries:
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