Posted on 09/01/2009 12:54:39 PM PDT by La Enchiladita
Spectacular!
For what it’s worth, we’re getting a significant downpour in Southeast San Diego County at the moment. But I think you’re right, it’s not going to make it that far north.
Very hazy in Colorado Springs (and “hazy” is rarely associated with Colorado Springs).
Jimena could make it worse as it sucks air to its center.
The local Palm Springs TV weather dude tells us we can expect some more humidity here in the southern desert, but not to bank on any spritz. Too bad - other than a freak (and very localized) 1/4” a week and a half ago, we haven’t had a teetotaler’s piss since around Christmas.
La Enchiladita,
Yes, your post was accurate. Around noon it was in danger and I watched some raw feed of fire leaping up around one of the Observatory buildings. In fact the CBS/KCAL tower had flames about coming at it about 1/2 mile away.
Last I heard there was a intense water drop effort that drove the fire back.
There one concern is that winds would come up.
I haven’t seen any more coverage for a while now....
I did notice that Running Springs had some rain.Yeah!! So maybe Mt. Wilson will get some showers too.
Polly
:Crews were making good progress during the day on the fire's southern, northern and western fronts.
But firefighters were frantically trying to save the historic astronomical observatory and dozens of critical TV and radio antennas from destruction. By 3 p.m., the fire was approaching closer than ever from two directions: one-half mile to the north and three-quarters of a mile to the west.
“We expect the fire to hit the Mt. Wilson facilities between 5 p.m. today and 2 a.m. Wednesday morning,” said 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.”
The equipment was driven in on the two-lane, five-mile long Mt. Wilson Road, which intersects Angeles Crest Highway. Access to the road was restricted to firefighters and law enforcement. Fire lined several sections of the road on both sides, and rocks were falling from denuded hillsides.
As he spoke from his temporary headquarters in the observatory’s main office, myriad controlled burns set beneath canyon oaks and old cedars cloaked the mountaintop with dense acrid smoke.
The air was also filled with the ear-splitting, blaring sounds of an observatory fire alarm system.
Chainsaws could be heard in every direction in the surrounding forest. Massive earth movers were being unloaded off flatbed trucks nearby. Powers said authorities had deliberately delayed diverting firefighters and equipment to the scene until the complex was in imminent danger.
“That time is now,” Powers said. Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Martin said. “We are going to burn, cut, foam and gel. And if that doesn’t work, we’re going to pray. This place is worth a lot, but it’s not worth dying for. ”
In a worst-case scenario, firefighters were expected to retreat to the safety of the observatory parking lot or seek refuge in the concrete and steel basement of the 105-year-old, 100-inch telescope observatory.
Damn!Still not out of the woods yet.
As most are aware, the vast majority of union members would not be union members if given a fair chance/choice. Just because the union hacks have the microphone doesn't mean the firefighter or any other union member agrees with them. It does mean that they need to look at their principles and make a decision whether to stay or not.
SZ
LOL!
Yep,...that’s dry!
The thing most notable to me when I saw the numerous aerial pictures of Mount Wilson was the poor brush clearance. From what I could see, there is brush or trees intermixed with the buildings and towers. I live on the north edge of the Angeles Forest, and within spitting distance of the Station Fire. The county fire department inspects our property at least twice each year to verify we have proper brush clearance. The fact is our clearance exceeds the county requirements, and, consequently, our property, and my neighbors are at minimal risk. We also lack the thick brush that is so prevalent on the south portion of the Angeles Forest. So while the county is so focused on proper clearance, why does the forest service ignore the need for clearance at Mount Wilson with so many expensive communication assets? I heard on one news broadcast that the forest service lost their own radio relay station on Mount Lukens due to the fire, and I also heard they lost one or two ranger stations.
You are absolutely right RLM! The brush was thick and if one of those trees had exploded it would have been history for those transmitters!!
I hear you about the brush clearance. We live in the foothills and have the identical situation... clear or be fined!~~~
Check the briefing 7:21 pm info here. LACo has been at work all day up there.
http://www.chara.gsu.edu/CHARA/fire.php
Those ‘flames around the building’ were backfires.
Thanks, we need more good people in politics.
:-)
Even a fire station burned down in this fire; did you hear that?
You are talking about lack of brush clearance, “from what [you] could see.” Can you substantiate that or investigate the actual status quo of brush clearance prior to the fire?
Remember also, this fire is occurring before what is normally considered fire “season.”
From what you say the state is more responsible in its fire prevention measures than the federals are. That would be an interesting distinction.
Thank you. I remember hearing yesterday morning about the 747 and going, Wow!
A Daily News reporter was photographing some of the fire damage yesterday. He has pictures of burned out forest service stations at Mill Creek and Monte Cristo stations. The county detention camp at Barley Flats (a former Nike facility) was also burned out. I understand the same thing happened at Mount Gleason prison camp (another former Nike facility) near where the two fireman were killed in a vehicle accident while escaping the camp.
http://dailynews.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=827806&CategoryID=26369&view=1
Clever answer....
You ARE a pol.....
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