Brush Fires in Angeles National Forest Force Mass Evacuations

Hundreds of Homes Evacuated as Forest Fire Threatens Multiple Communities near Duarte, Azusa

Two brush fires in the Angeles National Forest near Duarte and Azusa have consumed about 6,000 acres, prompting the evacuation of at least 685 homes, The Angeles National Forest spokesperson said.

The so called Fish Fire and Reservoir Fire were zero percent contained, as of posting, but had not combined as of 20:30 local time. They were separated by about 2km, said LA County Fire Dept.

About 700 crews from the U.S. Forest Service and the L.A. County Fire Department were tackling the fast moving fires, which were fueled by strong winds, relative low humidity and 3-digit heat.

Evacuation orders were issued in Duarte for Markwood Street, Deerlane Drive, Mount Olive Drive, Spinks Canyon Road, Rim Road, Goldenmeadow Drive, High Mesa Drive and Tall Pink Drive

Also evacuated were Azusa’s Mountain View area, Rainbow Ranch, and Fish Canyon Equestrian Center.

Meanwhile, the federal government issued a Fire Disaster Management Assistance for Fish Fire (FM-5129).

 

 

Plague-infected Squirrel Found in Los Angeles-area Campground

Squirrel tests positive for plague in Angeles National Forest North of LA

A ground squirrel has tested positive for plague after it was trapped in the Angeles National Forest during “routine surveillance activities,” said the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

The LA County has released the following health advisory:

HEALTH ADVISORY: Closures Posted for Broken Blade, Twisted Arrow, and Pima Loops of the Table Mountain Campgrounds Due to Plague Found in a Ground Squirrel

Closure signs posted in the Angeles National Forest near Wrightwood

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and U.S. Forestry Service officials have closed the Broken Blade, Twisted Arrow, and Pima Loops of the Table Mountain Campgrounds in the Angeles National Forest after tests confirmed that one ground squirrel trapped on July 16, 2013 during routine surveillance activities tested positive on July 23, 2013 for plague. The sites were officially closed at 1:00 p.m. today, and will be closed for at least 7 days. Campers at the site have been notified of the closure by Forest Service officials. The campgrounds and recreational areas are located near Wrightwood. In coordination with the Los Angeles County Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures, the squirrel burrows in the area will be dusted for fleas. Further testing of squirrels will be done before the area is re-opened to the public.

“Plague is a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas, which is why we close affected campgrounds and recreational areas as a precaution while preventive measures are taken to control the flea population,” said Jonathan E. Fielding, M.D., M.P.H., Director of Public Health and Health Officer. “It is important for the public to know that there have only been four cases of human plague in Los Angeles County residents since 1984, none of which were fatal.”

Plague has been known to reside in the ground squirrels population in the San Gabriel Mountains. Previous routine surveillance identified one plague-positive ground squirrel in 2010 from the Los Alamos campgrounds in Gorman; one in 2007 and two in 1996 from the Stoneyvale Picnic Area near La Cañada/Flintridge; and one plague- positive ground squirrel from an adjacent campground in Vogel Flats in 1995.

Transmission of plague through flea bites causes bubonic plague, with symptoms including enlargement of lymph glands (buboes) near the flea bite and rapid onset of fever and chills. Untreated bubonic plague can progress to infection of the blood, or rarely, the lungs, causing pneumonic plague. All forms of the disease can be fatal if not treated; however, most patients respond well to antibiotic therapy.

Individuals visiting recreational areas near the Broken Blade, Twisted Arrow, and Pima Loops of the Table Mountain Campgrounds need to take certain precautions to avoid contact with wild animals that could be carrying plague- positive fleas. Visitors to recreational areas should not feed wild animals, not leave edible trash out where wild animals can get to it, avoid camping or picnicking in the immediate vicinity of ground squirrel burrows, and should avoid taking pets into areas where they could be exposed to fleas. If you must take your pet into areas with fleas, please ensure your pet has appropriate flea control and vaccinations, as recommended by a veterinarian.

“Protection with an insect repellant containing DEET is also recommended for persons visiting the Angeles National Forest and engaging in outside recreational activities in other areas of LA County,” said Dr. Fielding. Insect repellant can help protect people against fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks. Products containing DEET are not safe for use on pets.”

Members of the public who see dead ground squirrels in recreational areas, or who want more information about precautions should contact the LA County Department of Public Health, Vector Management Program at (626) 430-5450.

The Department of Public Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of the nearly 10 million residents of Los Angeles County. […]

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Global Disasters/ Significant Events – June 3, 2013

Powerhouse fire in the Angeles National Forest and Santa Clarita spreads to 30,000 acres

The massive wildfire north of Los Angeles grew to about 30,000 acres and was 40% contained as of Monday morning,  authorities said.

The blaze has so far destroyed at least 6 homes and damaged more than a dozen others, according to several reports.

About 2,200 fire crews were attempting to suppress the fire which broke out Thursday afternoon in the Angeles National Forest north of Castaic, close to a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power station in San Francisquito Canyon near Drinkwater Reservoir.

More than 1,000 homes in the Lake Hughes and Lake Elizabeth areas were still under mandatory evacuation, as of posting.

-oOo-

Flooding Wreaks Havoc in Central Europe

Major flooding has worsened across Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland, with several countries declaring states of emergency.

• A large part of Eilenburg, a town north-east of Leipzig, was evacuated, with more than 7,000 people being taken to emergency shelters.
• In Austria, two months of rain fell in just two days, said the meteorological office, forcing the authorities to evacuate hundreds of people.
• Water levels in the Bavarian city of Passau, located at confluence of three rivers—the Danube, Inn and Ilz—were at their highest since 1501, the local media reported.

-oOo-

Saudi Arabia: Forecast Withheld by a Moderator

-oOo-

China slaughterhouse fire kills 119, injures many more

Death toll from a large fire at a “poultry slaughterhouse” in NE China’s Jilin Province has climbed to to 119 as of Monday afternoon, the authorities said.

The fire broke out early morning at a workshop “owned by the Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Company in Mishazi Township of Dehui City” also injured dozens of others, the report said.

-oOo-

Turkish protests turn into bloody riots

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Turkish cities, angry over the heavy-handed police response to a small peaceful demonstration last week.

• Hundreds of protesters and police have been injured since Friday.

• Protests began last week against construction in Istanbul’s “last remaining open space,” the Taksim Gezi Park.
• The anti-government protests have now spread to 67 provinces across Turkey.
• The largest demonstrations were held in Istanbul, the capital city of Ankara and ports of Antalya and Izmir.
• “The unrest has delivered a blow to Turkish financial markets that have thrived under Erdogan. Shares fell more than six percent and the lira fell to 16-month lows,” said a report.
  
• Some protestors complained about the costs from the prime Minister Erdogan’s support of rebels in neighboring Syria’s civil war.

-oOo-

DISASTER CALENDAR – June 3, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,013 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,013 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

1,000+ Homes Evacuated as Calif. Wildfire Powers Up

6,000-acre Powerhouse Fire prompts mandatory evacuations of more than 1,000 homes north of LA

The Los Angeles County fire and Sheriff’s departments ordered evacuations of more than 1,000 residences from San Francisquito Canyon Road up to Elizabeth Lake Road and areas south of Lake Hughes Road Saturday night as the 6,000-acre Powerhouse Fire continued to grow.

More than 1,000 fire crews were attempting to suppress the fire in the Angeles National Forest north of Castaic, in San Francisquito Canyon near a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power station next to Drinkwater Reservoir.

The massive blaze, which broke out Thursday afternoon, was fanned by erratic winds and daytime temperatures topping 105 degrees, and was less than 20% contained, as of posting.

• The fast-moving Powerhouse fire has destroyed at least five homes in the Lake Hughes area

-oOo-

New Mexico Wildfires: State of Emergency Declared in San Miguel County

Fire crews in New Mexico were fighting two growing wildfires Saturday that have consumed thousands of acres and forced hundreds of people from their homes.

Gov. Martinez declared a State of Emergency in San Miguel County and activated the State Emergency Operations Center after a fast-moving blaze dubbed the Tres Lagunas fire threatened about 150 cabins and vacation homes, closed a highway and prompted the authorities to evacuate dozens of residents near Pecos, NM.

The wildfire in New Mexico’s Santa Fe National Forest, located near the communities of Pecos and Tres Lagunas, about 25 miles east of Santa Fe, has consumed nearly 7,000 acres and is threatening the Santa Fe and Las Vegas watersheds.

The National Weather Service had earlier forecast Critical Fire Weather conditions throughout the State and has declared a Red Flag Warning for the northern half of New Mexico through Saturday.

2nd Large Blaze in NM prompts evacuations

Another New Mexico blaze, the Thompson Ridge fire near Jemez Springs, has grown to about 1,500 acres overnight prompting the authorities to evacuate at least 50  homes in the area.

-oOo-

Colorado Wildfire Threatens Several Homes

A wildfire in the Rio Grande National Forest, about 15 miles southwest of the small town of Creede, was reportedly  threatening several homes and outbuildings Saturday.

-oOo-

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

Philippines: M5.6  quake struck 5km ENE of Carmen, North Cotabato province, Philippines (7.215°N, 124.839°E; depth=16.0km ), damaging or destroying dozens of homes and injuring at least a dozen people.

-oOo-

Taiwan: M6.2 earthquake struck 22km SSE of Buli, in central Taiwan (23.794°N, 121.082°E; depth=20.0km ). No reports of damage or injuries were available as of posting.

• The quake reportedly shook buildings in the capital Taipei and caused a gas explosion.
• A villager was killed after being hit by falling rocks, and about two dozen others injured.
• The quake was felt in Hong Kong, some 700km away, reports said.

-oOo-

Hundred Evacuated Amid Flooding in Central Europe

Authorities in Czech Republic have evacuated hundreds of residents near the Vltava river after water levels began  reaching critical levels in the capital Prague on Sunday.

Evacuations are also underway in Germany, Austria and Switzerland due to river flooding. Cities of Passau and Rosenheim in southern Germany have issued states of emergency as water levels in Danube and Inn rivers continue to rise.

-oOo-

DISASTER CALENDAR – June 2, 2013 — 
SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,014 Days Left 

Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016.

• SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,014 Days Left to ‘Worst Day’ in the brief Human  History

GLOBAL WARNINGS

• WARNING: Human impact 2.85 x Earth’s diminishing carrying capacity
• WARNING: RAPID PLANETARY DECLINE IN PROGRESS!
• Europe: The First Phase of Collapse Has Started 
• United States: The First Phase of Collapse Has Begun

Global Disasters: Links, Forecasts and Background

• The First Wave of World’s Collapsing Cities
• Back to the Primordial Future
• The Fate of Energy Dinosaurs
• Mass Die-offs

SoCal Fires Rage On!

500 km² consumed by out of control fire

The Fire in California Mainly…

• The Station Fire has more than doubled in size to about 110,000 acres burning completely out of control for a sixth day.

• Two fire crews were killed Sunday when they drove off the side of a road in the Mt. Gleason area, south of Acton.

• About 2,600 personnel are currently tackling the  massive blaze.

• Fire destroyed 18 homes Sunday and at least three structures early Monday, according to California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

• Two school districts canceled the first day of classes due to heavy smoke, which made breathing difficult.

LA Times Google Map of the Station Fire. Image may be subject to copyright. The areas shaded in yellow are (L-R) Acton/Agua Dulce area (evacuated), Cheseboro Road south of Mt Emma Road (evacuated),  Juniper Hills neighborhood (under evacuation orders).

Towering Inferno. A structure burns during the Station Fire in the Big Tujunga canyon area of Los Angeles, California August 29, 2009.  REUTERS/Gene Blevins. Image may be subject to copyright.

Smoke from the Station fire over the Angeles National Forest as seen from a hellicopter. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times /August 31, 2009). Image may be subject to copyright.

South of Dixieline? Flames burn near a cross during the Station Fire in the Big Tujunga area of Los Angeles, California August 29, 2009. REUTERS/Gene Blevins. Image may be subject to copyright.

What da  fiia ma  gonna do now? A deer walks through charred forest in the Angeles National Forest near Acton.(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images /August 31, 2009). Image may be subject to copyright.

More images at

• LA Times Photo Album
• Reuters Photos

Related Links and Previous Entries:

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

SoCal Blazes Blacken More Scrubland

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:

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

The “F” word is back in SoCal

Marek Fire May Start a New Wave of Wildfires in SoCal

A 2,000-acre wildfire aided by Santa Ana winds broke out in the Angeles National Forest on Sunday. The so-called Marek fire jumped a fireline and forced the closure of Foothill Freeway, a major SoCal freeway.

[The Dragon Fire!] A firefighter works to extinguish a portion of the fire that burned near the Biedebach regional fire training center in the Angeles National Forest on Sunday morning. October 12, 2008. Photo:Rick Loomis/Los Angeles Times. Image may be subject to copyright.

The fire, which apparently started by gunfire from a range near Little Tujunga Road, about 20 miles north of downtown Los Angeles, destroyed a house and several motor homes and lead to the evacuation of about 1,500 residents of 500 homes in the areas of Lopez and Kagel canyons.

It’s feared that embers could spark new fires, Los Angeles County Fire Department said. More…

Related Links:

• Right on Track for 2009 Cost of Calif Fires Forecast
• Our Forecast for 2009 California Fires
• California Wildfire Scam Continues
• California Fires: Not Hard to Understand!

• The War on Wildfire
• Telegraph Fire: Day 5
• What Next After The Telegraph Fire?

• Nature Must Be Punished, Look at the Mess in California!
• California ‘Mojavefied’ by 2011?

• Thought for the Day
• Stop Nature! She Is Ruining Our Lifestyles