Posted on 08/31/2009 6:52:46 PM PDT by Steelfish
L.A. County fire has destroyed 74 structures, remains out of control
August 31, 2009
The number of homes burned by the Station fire has surged to 74 as the out-of-control wildfire pushed west and north, officials say.
Fifty-three homes, mountain cabins and other buildings were destroyed when the fire swept through the hamlet of Stonyvale in Tujunga Canyon. Earlier officials had said 21 homes were lost, mostly in remote areas in Tujunga Canyon and south of Acton.
The fire showed little sign of slowing down this afternoon as it threatened 12,000 homes in suburban tracts and desert communities, along with a historic observatory and major array of television and radio transmission towers.
“The fire is headed just about anywhere it wants to,” L.A. County Fire Deputy Chief Mike Dietrich said. “This is a very angry fire. Until we get a change in the weather conditions, I am not overly optimistic.” With afternoon winds picking up, the Station fire, the largest of eight burning in the state, was plowing through dense hillside vegetation and steep terrain toward residential areas of Sunland and Santa Clarita on the west.
As billows of white and black smoke danced ominously close, Chuck Horn ushered his family and his two prized collectors' automobiles out of his home in the Sunland-Tujunga area.
"We took pictures, tax returns, insurance forms, the dog, the chicken, and that's it," Horn, 61, a retired L.A. County public works employee, said as he prepared to drive away in his baby blue 1931 Plymouth three-window coupe. Horn was next planning on moving his black 1911 Buick Model 33 away from the blaze.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
Prayers up. I can’t imagine feeling more helpless than in a situation like this.
Most of those structures were small week end cabins or out building.
Last report there were only about 19 actual homes lost.
Have they found the cause? Lightning, arson???
What? The LA Times wouldn’t give us the FACTS? LOL!
A massive fire to be sure, and with only 19 to 21 homes lost, is quite remarkable.
That was just today... they said 74 total, it’s burned several days.
Been licking at Mt. Wilson for a day or so. Firefighters have laid down a lot of suppressant hoping to keep it from getting to the twenty or so antennas and the old observatory at that site.
Geez, this will surely eat into our budget defecit.
0bama doesn’t care.
(playing off the Bush/Katrina bruhaha is good karma.)
Does anyone know if any of the fires threaten LA proper?
Maybe confused, but isn’t this the same one where careless grilling at a clandestine marijuana grow site was blamed?
Hadn’t heard so was just wondering ....
I live in Southern California, This fire is massive! I am amazed it has burned that few structures! I am guessing most of those burned were mountain cabins on Forest Service lease land. It continues to burn closer and closer to civilization.
Firebreaks and strips of cultivated fields are your best deterrent against large wildfire.
Californians have 21st century technology and achieve poorer results than 19th century prairie farmers.
My compassion is limited by their hubris.
Haven’t looked lately. I must aggrivate a lot of people since I haven’t had that little counter all that long. Course, I’ve been to yours too, but it was quite some time ago. Have a great nite FRiend.
Yes, but read the headline, it says "structures", which can include horse stalls and garden sheds.
Been licking at Mt. Wilson for a day or so. Firefighters have laid down a lot of suppressant hoping to keep it from getting to the twenty or so antennas and the old observatory at that site.
That observatory site is where some of the greatest astronomical discoveries of the 20th century were made, that literally changed the way we look at our world and our universe.
This was the stomping grounds for people like Albert Michelson, Edwin Hubble, George Ellery Hale.
Mount Wilson has again become testing zone for new technology and is considered by many to be a temple of astronomical history and current research.
If ya ever get a chance to visit and tour, go for it.
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