Socal Fire Crews: May the Force Be With You …

But that’s all the water we’ve got!

Photo: From a lakeside dock in Yucaipa Regional Park, the McHenry family  cheers as a Sikorsky S64 Sky Crane firefighting helicopter goes “In the Dip” for another load of water Tuesday. (Don Bartletti /Los Angeles Times). Image may be subject to copyright.

Fires Approach Mt. Wilson Observatory from Two Directions

Fire crews are reportedly trying to save the historic Mt Wilson observatory as well as important TV and radio antennas from destruction. Fire was approaching the mountain  from two directions: about 800 meters (yards) to the north and 1,200 meters (yards) to the west.

Photo: Flames from the Station fire approach Mt. Wilson Observatory in the Angeles National Forest. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times).  Image may be subject to copyright.

“We expect the fire to hit the Mt. Wilson facilities between 5 p.m. today and 2 a.m. Wednesday morning,” LA Times quoted Los Angeles County Fire Department Deputy Chief James Powers. “Right now, we’re conducting controlled burns around the perimeter in preparation for the impending fire’s arrival. We’re also bringing in trucks and special equipment to coat all of the structures with protective gel and foam if necessary. We do not plan to cover everything with a gooey mess.”

Smoke from the Station Fire rises over downtown Los Angeles Monday, Aug. 31, 2009. (AP Photo/Jon Vidar).  Image may be subject to copyright.

The Los Angeles skyline is obscured by smoke [buildings are barely visible in the background] from the Station Fire north of the city August 31, 2009. A deadly wildfire burning out of control for a sixth day in the parched mountains north of Los Angeles doubled in size overnight on Monday and posed a continuing threat to Mount Wilson, a key communications nexus for the region’s broadcasters and emergency services. REUTERS/Freds Prouser. Image may be subject to copyright.

Head Lines:

• Pitched battle underway to save Mt. Wilson from fire as officials cite progress elsewhere
• Supervisor says county’s emergency notification system failed during fires
• Firefighters battle flames on Mt. Wilson
• Los Angeles wildfire gets first break from weather
• Huge wildfire portends bad Calif. fire season

More images at

• LA Times Photo Album
• Reuters Photos

Related Links and Previous Entries:

• https://feww.wordpress.com/calif-fires-2009/