LA Times: L.A. County fire doubles in size; more homes destroyed; Mt. Wilson threatened

L.A. County fire doubles in size; more homes destroyed; Mt. Wilson threatened
August 31, 2009 | 7:35 am


A fire in the Angeles National Forest that is threatening homes from Acton to Altadena and has killed two firefighters doubled in size to 85,000 acres overnight and destroyed more structures.

The exact number of homes consumed by the Station fire remains unclear, but officials said several homes south of Acton, on the fire's northern flank, were lost last night and this morning. Earlier, 18 homes in the Tujunga Canyon area were lost, but officials expect the number to rise.

More neighborhoods were evacuated overnight as the fire pushed in three directions. Officials said the blaze had not yet burned to the top of Mt. Wilson, where critical communications centers are located, but they said that area remains highly vulnerable. Firefighters remained atop the mountain this morning, trying to protect the TV and radio transmitters.

"We are making progress. But it is very slow and very dangerous," Mike Dietrich of the L.A. County Fire Department said at a news conference this morning. "We have to wait for the fire to come to us." ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/08/la-county-fire-doubles-in-size-more-homes-list-mt-wilson-threatened.html

It is scary...

Stay safe people...

K&R

:grouphug:

Los Angeles National Forest doesn't seem to have very many fire breaks cut in strategic locations to limit the spread of fire. The roads don't even seem to be too well developed according to google maps.

It is getting drier along the west coast. The chances of wild fires increases with the climate changes brought on by global warming.