Posted on 09/01/2009 12:54:39 PM PDT by La Enchiladita
The so-called Station Fire, which now covers more than 120,000 Southern California acres and is burning largely uncontained, continues to threaten the century-old Mount Wilson Observatory, home to astronomer Edwin Hubble at the time he made his landmark observations of the universe's expansion.
The observatory is currently unmanned due to the fire threat and the attending smoke, but a webcam atop Mount Wilson's 150-foot solar tower has provided observatory managers and concerned observers with a view from the scene. At 12:55 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) the camera showed a great deal of smoke but no flames.
...According to the Los Angeles Times, authorities had cleared the top of Mount Wilson of fire personnel Monday amid unpredictable conditions but today allowed them to return to fight the fire from the ground.
Fire agencies expressed optimism this morning that the fire would become significantly better contained today, the newspaper reported. Officials were "hoping a concerted effort to hack away tree limbs, cut fire breaks and lay down fire retardant would spare the Mt. Wilson Observatory and a key complex of communications towers used for over-the-air broadcasting by nearly 50 radio and television stations," according to the Times .
(Excerpt) Read more at scientificamerican.com ...
Flames are still a ways from the towers.
True story. And don’t you think that with a state having the tax base of California, enduring this level of annual devastation from fires, we couldn’t muscle up some money? Boggles my mind.
It was very unusual the past 4-5 days to have blue sky overhead and see the mushroom cloud of smoke to the NNE.
Very unlike the situation last year, Nov. 15-16, when Santa Ana blew smoke and ash over L.A. all the way to the coast.
The “fire truther,” as I call him, doesn’t miss a thread does he? But as you say, misses the point entirely.
I’m well aware that California is broke NOW. But for the past several decades, we had the largest tax base in the United States. Nothing was done then either.
Regarding the ‘updrafts’ and ‘turbulence’ and all that, each situation would call for whatever works best. But truthfully, most of these fires would be out before they ever get to the point of creating any significant ‘weather’ of their own. And that’s the point. You get them early, they never get a chance to get to this level.
What wonderful news! :)
Burnouts or backfires (same thing) is pretty much one of the big keys to fighting a wildland fire. Make a firebreak, remove the fuel between the break and the fire, and when the fire gets to the burned out area with little or no fuel, it dies down. This is particularly true when you have a hot fire that’s too aggressive to do more direct attack methods.
You have a lot fewer airports that can host them, they don’t always work in the mountains as well because they are too big, and can’t always get close enough. There are places they are wonderful, but they are just one tool in a toolbox of a lot of tools.
BTW, you sound like a politician......................
Thanks! Good pics!
I hear on KFI radio that they reporting right now
HMM let Photoshopping Freepers handle this
yitbos
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN DIEGO CA
334 PM PDT TUE SEP 1 2009
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CONTINUED HOT DAYS INLAND THROUGH THURSDAY...
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COOLING IS FORECAST LATE IN THE WEEK AS A LOW PRESSURE TROUGH APPROACHES FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. THE COOLING WILL CONTINUE OVER THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE CLOSE TO...OR SLIGHTLY BELOW SEASONAL AVERAGES.
Jimena Won't Put the Flames Out
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The massive wildfire burning in Southern California will be put out when it runs out of fuel, firefighters gain the upper hand or both of these factors combine forces.
Powerful Hurricane Jimena will provide no assistance, whatsoever. The hurricane's heaviest rain will fall across the southern and central Baja as well as along a portion of the
Some of that tropical moisture would go a long way in helping to extinguish the Southern California blaze, but it can't get there. The flow is simply not aligned properly.
Yeah, we started getting smoke reports down in San Diego County about three this morning. I took a look at the Wilson weather station and it was showing northeast wind at six. We’re actually pretty lucky to be getting this burn-off prior to Santa Ana.
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