One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Station Fire: Over 85K Acres, Wind Expected, Super Scoopers Arrive
The Station Fire made short work of the dense dry brush of the Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains last night, almost doubling in size to at least 85,000 acres and growing. It is 19 miles long and 16 miles wide, according to a live KTLA broadcast, and still stands at only 5% contained. While communication towers and the Observatory atop Mount Wilson have not been burned, officials "said that area remains highly vulnerable," and firefighters remain actively working to keep the flames at bay from the historic building and vital broadcast equipment, reports the LA Times.
On the northern flank of the fast-moving fire in Acton several homes were reported lost this morning, which adds to the 18 structures reported lost in the Big Tujunga area; officials, however, expect the number to rise when they can better asses the fire's damage.
Unfortunately, the weather includes heavy wind today--something the fire seemed more than able to move swiftly without the aid of since it began. To help in the fight two Super Scooper water-dropping aircraft arrived last night to Van Nuys Airport and are being put to work this morning, along with the over 2,000 fire personnel from all over California and numerous other states.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
