Results tagged “angelesnationalforest”

Although the massively large Station Fire was fully contained last month, it still burns in the Angeles National Forest. That may be confusing, but we'll back up to the common definitions of containment and control, as given by officials in most fire updates to the public:

The Yellow-Legged Frog is one of the endangered species found within the Angeles National Forest. With the Station Fire now past and mudslides a concern, U.S. Fish and Wildlife service officials are relocating some of the frogs until their home is more stable, reports the Pasadena Star News. Other endangered species in the forest include the unarmored threespine stickleback (it's a fish), the Arroyo toad and the Santa Ana suckerfish. LAist covered the frogs last December.

Big, but not surprising news snuck out yesterday about the 250-square mile Station Fire. After a cold front and a few days of rain, containment finally reached 100 percent last Friday evening.

The man who is suspected of starting a small fire in the Angeles National Forest just six days before the 250-square mile Station Fire was arrested last week in Lancaster, according to the LA Times. 25-year-old Babatunsin Olukunle, a Nigerian national, was caught on August 20th tending a fire near Mile Mark 36. Six days later near Mile Mark 29, the Station Fire began. Officials determined the large blaze to be caused by arson, prompting a homicide investigation after two firefighters lost their lives. Olukunle was only wanted for questioning and has not been formally named a suspect yet. Earlier this Month: Transient Sought For Questioning in Earlier Fire 'Person of Interest' in Station Fire

A report released today by the U.S. Geological Survey says that if it rains, "huge flows of mud and debris" are a likely scenario in the areas burned by the Station Fire, according to the Associated Press. The report examined about two scenarios--one, a three-hour thunderstorm and a 12-hour one.

U.S. Forest Officials yesterday signed an order that lifted closure restrictions on a large chunk of the Angeles National Forest. However, 450 square miles of the San Gabriel Mountain range still remain off-limits to public-at-large as the Station Fire continues to burn and personnel comb through recovery areaa. The closure will remain in affect until next year September, unless a new order lifting restrictions is signed.

The still-burning--yes, five weeks in, still burning--Station Fire is being investigated after the L.A. Times exposed that authorities pulled back resources on the fire when it first began. "It is very clear that a thorough investigation and review of the Station Fire response by the federal government is absolutely necessary," Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a written statement, supporting the federal investigation. "I can assure all Californians that the state is fully committed to working with the federal government to improve the U.S. Forest Service's response efforts," the governor added."

In Los Angeles, new taxes, assessments and fee increases tend to fund a basic municipal services, such as growing a police force or renewing an aging power infrastructure. In smaller and younger cities, however, voters sometimes allow such monies to be directed elsewhere.

An LA Times investigation this weekend revealed that the response to the Station Fire was scaled back when officials underestimated the power of the blaze. Such an error in judgement is expected to change policy when a fire is ablaze in the lower Angeles National Forest near residential neighborhoods.

Full containment of the month-long Station Fire remains just out of grasp, according to an update issued this morning. The massive wildfire continues to hover at 98% containment, however officials are not currently able to provide a specific date for 100%. This is because "a small portion of the containment line is completely inaccessible and cannot be reached by crews in a safe manner. This area of open line is located in the San Gabriel Wilderness near Twin Peaks and will be continuously monitored." Although the skies do not indicate that the area continues to burn, potential visitors to the Angeles National Forest are reminded that "travel and recreation within the fire perimeter is still extremely dangerous and not allowed," and multiple road closures remain in effect.

Of all that smoke that clouded the Los Angeles region during the Station Fire, some was of the whacky variety. Sheriff's deputies had identified three marijuana cultivation sites just before the fire began last month and they're sure more sites, unbeknownst to them, went aflame as well.

       

Although the Station Fire is still not fully contained--it's currently at 98 percent with 100 expected Saturday after burning through some 250 square miles--the process of rehabilitation has begun in parts of the Angeles National Forest where fire and come and gone.

The Station Fire began four weeks ago today on August 26th. Back then, the already-burning Morris Fire was dominating concern from authorities, but then the Station Fire took a turn for the worst, eventually burning through 250 square miles of the Angeles National Forest and becoming the biggest fire in Los Angeles County history (and in the top ten for the state).

Fire-friendly weather has pushed back containment of the nearly month-old Station Fire to Thursday, according to Forest Service authorities today. The blaze, which has burned through some 250 square miles, is still 94 percent contained. Aerial operations will continue in an effort to knockdown remaining interior hotspots and to reduce the risk of embers igniting additional fuels during today's hot, dry and windy weather. "These hotspots are located in steep and rugged terrain, which is inaccessible by ground crews," explained an Angeles National Forest fire operations summary.

Last week we showed you NASA's series of images from space of the Station Fire and its ugly spread across the Angeles National Forest. The fire remains less than fully contained, and last week another image was added to the series of shots, this one indicating the "burn scar" from the massive wildfire. Much like a scar on our bodies, this is a wound that is going to take quite some time to heal.

Citing concerns over predicted weather, prime for fueling and spreading fire, Forest Service authorities have ordered air assaults to begin tomorrow morning and throughout the next few days as needed to combat the still burning Station Fire. Four heavy helitankers will treat fuels along the north slope of Mount Wilson, a rugged area too steep for fire crews to reach by foot.

The 13-year-old El Monte boy who allegedly started the Morris Fire was charged today with two felony counts, arson and recklessly causing a fire to a forest or structure, according to KNX1070. He is not in custody, but will be arraigned on November 17th in Pomona Juvenile Court. The Morris Fire began on Tuesday, August 25th in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa and Glendora. It burned through some 2,168 acres and has been 100 percent contained

Officials this morning extended the expected full containment of the Station Fire from this Saturday to Tuesday, citing an increase in hotter and drier weather. "We're expecting humidity to go down, temperatures to go up and wit the normal flow of down canyon winds mixed with dry fuel, we decided to push containment back a few days," explained Brian Grant, a Forest Service fire information officer, over the phone.

U.S. Forest Service officials announced tonight that the Station Fire is now contained at 93 percent, up two points since this morning. However, the size of the fire remains at 160,557 acres, roughly 250 square miles.

One day before the Station Fire began, the Morris Fire ignited in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa and Glendora, prompting the closure of Highway 39 and a handful of evacuations of camping areas. Today authorities said that a 13-year-old boy started the fire, but did not say how it was started, according to the LA Times. The case was presented to the district attorney's office, which will decide if there will be any charges. The Morris Fire, which began around 4:27 pm on Tuesday, August 25, burned 2,168 acres and is 100 percent contained.

Hot spots and little areas of the Station Fire are all that remain for firefighters, say Angeles National Forest officials today. Crew are mopping up those spots and other smoldering areas that need attending to while other personnel are patrolling for unknown areas of danger. "We're making sure that everything that was burning is out now," said Tom Debellis, a Forest Service fire information officer, over the phone.

Good news. Authorities with the Angeles National Forest say that the Station Fire has now been contained to 91 percent with full containment expected on Saturday. The size of the fire remains at 160,557, roughly 250 square miles.

Fire crews have contained the Station Fire to 87%, up 6 points since Friday evening and are optimistic the fire will be knocked down soon. However, officials have extended the expected containment date from tomorrow to Saturday. Acreage burned still stands at 160,557, or over 250 square miles.

We've seen, smelt and been saddened by the destruction of the deadly Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest. Containment is expected next week and soon after a new phase will be entered into: rebirth. "After we get in there and assess what damages need to be repaired, there will be opportunity for volunteers to help the Forest Service repair some of this stuff," explained Howard Okamoto, the Recreation Officer for the Los Angeles River Ranger District, which was the area most affected by the blaze. He said activities will likely include tree plantings and trail work, but once a list of needs is developed, more projects opportunities will be announced. In the meantime, those interested in volunteering should contact Okamoto to be placed on a list to be notified when projects are ready to go. He can be reached at 818-899-1900 x229 or better yet by e-mail at hokamoto [at] fs.fed.us.

The Station Fire is largest wildfire in LA County's modern history (10th largest in California since 1933), burning 160,357 acres--some 250 square miles--throughout the Angeles National Forest on the San Gabriel Mountains. Officials have made plenty of progress since it began two weeks ago yesterday announcing today a 71 percent containment, a vast improvement from Wednesday when it was at 62 percent. Full containment is expected by 6 p.m. on September 15th.

The Station Fire has slowed significantly, but that doesn't mean its impact is any less significant as it continues to burn through ravines full of dry brush and vegetation on its eastern front. As of yesterday, the total acreage the blaze has consumed reached 157,220 according to the LA Times, and is burning "a safe distance from populated areas."

The Station Fire seems to be holding steady, and while the news is good to some degree, the big picture tells another story. As of last report, the "overnight containment of the 154,000-acre blaze [...] rose to 49% as temperatures dropped and humidity" increased according to LA Now. Along with the increase in acreage comes an increase in cost; the largest wildfire in LA County's modern history "has cost more than $37 million to fight, and officials are still assessing the toll to property, wildlife and forest facilities."

Due to the Station Fire (and the Morris Fire, which is now 100 percent contained), officials today closed all portions of the Angeles National Forest within the San Gabriel Mountain Range, citing a federal law meant "to protect natural resources and provide for public safety." Basically, that means the whole mountain range is closed, save for the edges and a portion within the San Bernardino National Forest on the eastern end before the Cajon Pass and 15 Freeway. The closure will last until the fire is 100 percent contained.

This afternoon the monstrous Station Fire continued its slowed-burn of the Angeles National Forest and San Gabriel Mountains, moving east towards communities to the north of Pasadena, as predicted earlier today.

Despite an on-air interview with KNX1070 earlier today stating the Station Fire was human-caused, officials with the Angeles National Forest said that was premature. "Confusion has arisen around the cause of the huge wildfire burning North of Downtown Los Angeles," the radio station wrote in an update. "The US Forest Service has retracted earlier statements made on KNX that the fire was 'human-caused'. Speaking on KNX, a spokesperson for the Service now says it's still too early to determine the cause."