Huge amount of forest lost to Station fire

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Vast swaths of the Angeles National Forest have been destroyed by the fire, with mountains on both sides of Angeles Crest Highway for 15 miles above La Canada Flintridge reduced to ash.

Driven by high winds, flames continued to burn out of control high in the mountains as they neared the Mt. Wilson Solar Observatory and onsite communication towers.

“It’s a serious situation,” said Bob Shindelar, operations branch director of California Incident Management Team 5. “Is the observatory going to make it? We’re doing everything in our power. But I wouldn’t be surprised if it is impacted by fire today or tomorrow.”

Officials said they are hoping to assess the effect of the fire on trails, campgrounds and wildlife.

--Louis Sahagun in La Canada-Flintridge