In Southern California there are a number of fires raging. A few in Riverside and San Bernardino counties have burned thousands of acres, but the most fierce of the current fires is on the northeast side of Los Angeles, burning in the foothills that separates the L.A. basin from Santa Clarita.
The Station Fire doubled in size yesterday, destroying 62 structures, 53 of which were homes. Numerous evacuations are being enforced as the tremendous flames tower over residential neighborhoods on the northern and southern edges of the fire. The areas affected include the densely populated foothill communities of Altadena, La Canada-Flintridge, Glendale, La Crescenta, Tujunga and Sunland in the south to the high desert ranchlands of Acton to the north.
Firefighters have come from all parts of California, including many companies down from Northern California, to battle the blaze that has been inching down toward about 300 homes near the Angeles National Forest.
The burned area consists of more than 190 square miles, 127,513 acres. Heat has been a factor as the Los Angeles area has been experiencing temperatures well over 100 degrees. The heat wave is expected to cool as the week progresses.
According to CBS News, Channel 2, up to 12,000 homes are still threatened and 2,000 residents have been chased from their homes.
CBS also reports: "Fire spokesman Paul Lowenthal said Tuesday that the blaze won't be fully surrounded until mid-September."
Though more than 28 miles of fire lines (not containment lines) have been established, the difficulty of adding about 75 more miles of fire lines to establish a circle of firefighting crews around the fire is difficult largely because of the rough terrain of the Angeles National Forest foothills.
Two firefighters have been killed during the battle to contain the Station Fire. The deceased are Capt. Tedmund Hall, 47, of San Bernardino and firefighter Specialist Arnaldo "Arnie" Quinones, 35, of Palmdale. They were killed when their vehicle plummeted off a mountain road on Sunday.
One of the strategies in fighting the immense Station Fire has been the setting of backfires. Many of the backfires are being lit near the homes in danger, with the hopes the fuel for the Station Fire in those areas will already be consumed, therefore saving the homes from the larger inferno.
One of the major concerns, along with the homes that are threatened, is Mount Wilson. Fire crews have sprayed fire retardant at Mount Wilson, which is home to at least 20 television transmission towers, radio and cell phone antennas, and the century-old Mount Wilson Observatory which houses two giant telescopes and several multimillion-dollar university programs in its role as both a landmark for its historic discoveries and a thriving modern center for astronomy.
With Hurricane Jimena to the south striking Mexico's Baja California, and dotting up the peninsula, it is hoped that Southern California will receive a little rain to lower the temperatures, and dampen the fires.
The Station Fire has burned 127,513 acres, and is only 5% contained.
Other Southern California fires include the Riverside County Oak Glen Fire which has burned 1,012 acres, has damaged one residence, threatens 2,000 homes and 75 commercial properties, and is 40% contained. The Cottonwood Fire has been just fully contained. It burned 2,409 acres. The Pendleton Fire is 45% contained, threatening 400 residences, and has burned 640 acres. The Morris Fire in Los Angeles County is just east of the Station Fire. It is 95% contained, and has burned 2,168 acres. In Northern California there are three fires burning. The Big Meadow Fire in Mariposa County is 55% contained, and has burned 5,257 acres. That fire is currently threatening 50 residences. The Forty Nine Fire just north of Sacramento is 80% contained, burned 340 acres, and destroyed 50 homes, and 10 commercial properties. The Red Rock fire in the northwest corner of the State of California is 85% contained, and has burned 1,382 acres.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Station Fire Rages On Toward Homes, Mount Wilson - CBS 2 News
Statewide Fires Map - California Wildfires
Tourists in Mexico flee Hurricane Jimena - Yahoo News
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