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Take Two

Heat, wind, and drones: The challenges in fighting the Sand Fire

By Take Two Staff
Published Jul 25, 2016
The Sand Fire burns intensely off Placerita Canyon Rd Sunday afternoon as a media vehicle races away from flames. The Sand Fire burns in the Angeles National Forest Sunday July 24th, 2016 under a Red Flag Warning high high winds. The fire had burned 22,000 acres by Sunday morning and was 10% contained as firefighters battled low humidity, shifting wind, and high temperatures. An unknown number of structures were lost.
The Sand Fire burns intensely off Placerita Canyon Rd Sunday afternoon as a media vehicle races away from flames. The Sand Fire burns in the Angeles National Forest Sunday July 24th, 2016 under a Red Flag Warning high high winds. The fire had burned 22,000 acres by Sunday morning and was 10% contained as firefighters battled low humidity, shifting wind, and high temperatures. An unknown number of structures were lost.
(
Stuart Palley for KPCC
)

Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.

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Heat, wind, and drones: The challenges in fighting the Sand Fire

A wildfire that started Friday in the canyons around Santa Clarita has now forced the evacuation of some 20,000 area residents. An army of firefighters have been hampered by hot, dry weather, and rough terrain covered with brush that's been turned into tinder by years of drought.

Gustavo Medina, inspector for LA County Fire, explained the main obstacles in battling the massive blaze.

Heat

Southern California has been smacked with extreme heat since the fire erupted on Friday. The brush is "primed" because most of it has not burned in about 30 years, Medina explained. California's ongoing drought isn't helping, either.

Winds

 "The fact that the fire is continuously getting pushed by the winds doesn't help us," Medina said. The winds have been spreading embers across the area, and red flag warnings are expected to continue until 12 p.m. Monday.

Terrain

"There's areas where it's difficult or inaccessible to ground personnel to get in there," Medina said. Hence the two-pronged attack from the air and land.

Drones

A drone spotted in the area of the fire fight halted efforts at one point over the weekend. "When it comes to flying a drone in an emergency operational area, it really hinders our job, and it really prevents us from doing what we're here to do: fight fires," Medina said. Sometimes fire fighting aircraft can be grounded for hours because of the presence of a personal drone. "It's a huge back-breaker," he said.

To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.