Firefighters predict another difficult day as they battle blaze on multiple fronts

Firefighters are predicting another difficult battle today as they try to prevent a wildfire that has already burned 35,000 acres from destroying more homes along a massive front that extends from Acton near the Antelope Valley to Altadena in the San Gabriel Valley.

With temperatures expected to reach the mid- to high 90s today in the fire areas, officials said they were expecting extreme fire conditions, mirroring Saturday’s, when flames leapt as high as 80 feet and spread at a rate of about 2.5 miles an hour.

More than 2,000 fire personnel now are deployed fighting the Station fire.

In the Acton area, mandatory evacuations have been ordered along the 14 Freeway from Soledad Canyon Road to Crown Valley Road and along Aliso Canyon Road from Soledad Canyon Road to Angeles Forest Highway.

The California Highway Patrol has also closed the on and offramps to the 14 Freeway at Soledad Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, Escondido Canyon Road, Red Rover Mine Road and Crown Valley Road. They said that they were concerned that fire behavior in the area could become extreme as they were expecting the wind to shift around 10 a.m.

At its eastern flank, officials said that the fire was about two miles from Mt. Wilson, site of a number of important communications towers and an observatory. Ground crews are cutting back vegetation and brush in the area to arrest the fire’s progress.

At its southwestern flank, the fire is spreading actively in the foothills above the 210 Freeway, from Altadena to Little Tujunga. Officials said they had four control objectives for the day:

-- Keep the fire west of Mt. Wilson Road

-- Keep it south of Highway 14.

-- Keep it east of Interstate 5.

-- Keep it north of both Foothill Boulevard and Altadena Drive.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Bill Sanchez said fire crews needed to cut about 110 miles of fire line to stop the fire’s trajectory.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Bill Sanchez said fire crews needed to cut about 110 miles of fire line to stop the fire’s trajectory.

He said the wind changed direction overnight, particularly in the mountainous areas of the Angeles National Forest, to a down-canyon wind, which pushed it toward some residential areas.

“Due to the volatility at the top of some of the areas, it is going to be really challenging,” Sanchez said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us. There is quite a bit of instability at the top of the fire.”

Weary firefighters were hoping for slightly cooler weather and more resources today as they battled the Station fire.

The fire marched north overnight through remote mountain ridges toward Acton. The U.S. Forest Service was sending firefighters into those areas, which have become the northern edge of the blaze. Mandatory evacuations were in effect in La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, La Crescenta, Altadena, Glendale and Big Tujunga Canyon.

Today is supposed to be the last day of a five-day heat wave that has brought triple-digit temperatures along the fire lines. Forecasters said temperatures will drop a few degrees today and that lower temperatures, morning clouds and more humidity are on tap for the next few days.

But even with no winds in the forecast, firefighters said the conditions remain highly dangerous.

Forest Service officials said three civilians were burned and airlifted from rural Big Tujunga Canyon, where at least three to five homes were destroyed. One fire official, after surveying the canyon, estimated that the toll may be much worse. Read more about the Station fire. 

-- Alexandra Zavis in La Canada Flintridge, Raja Abdulrahim in La Crescenta, Sam Quinones in Altadena and Cara Mia DiMassa

Photo credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times

 

 Photos: Southland wildfires

 Map: The Station Fire

 Related articles: 

• Schwarzenegger urges residents in path of flames to flee as fire roars in three directions
• Fires create another bad-air day in parts of Los Angeles
• La Crescenta homeowners defy evacuation order, band together to fight flames

Comments

[Russ Saunders]

This comment is for the future...it has been reported that this fire is burning in areas that have not had a fire for over 60 years and the amount of fuel is tremendous. What about finding similar areas and attempting to hire at a minimum wage thousands and thousands of out of work people to go in and under Forest Service supervision, trim out the overgrowth...definitely not everything but simply thin down to a more normal growth the shrubs which are causing such a problem for the fire fighters today. A little money in the pocket, a sense of duty and accomplishment and this would be a win--win for everyone.

[Mike P]

The Forest Service should have knocked this thing down Wednesday when they had the chance instead of letting it burn because it was in the 'back country'.

[David Datz]

Keep the fire north of Foothill Boulevard and Altadena Drive? Do they intend to abandon all the people==like my family--who live north of those streets?

[asdfasd fafasdfa]

I like (sarcasm( how LCF residents are trying to make more of a fuss about this fire ... they think they can pull more weight just because they have $$$. Sadly... that's how things work in this world...

[asdfasd fafasdfa]

Actually, what's really sad is the censorship on the comments that are allowed to be seen by the public.

[Christopher Reed]

It would be nice to have a key to the meanings of the symbols and shadings that are used on the maps of the fires.

Chris

[Barb]

asdfasdfafasdfa - are you out of your mind!!! Fire has no respect for the poor, wealthy or anywhere in between. In 1971 fire destroyed property all of the way from Santa Clarita to Malibu. My son and his family are directly in the path of this fire. I have so much admiration for all of those firefighters that are trying to protect LIVES and property.

[Matt]

Yesterday (8-29-09) while heading from Newhall to Sunland I was able to see the Flames, From the south bound I-5 Comming trough the Newhall Pass. Driving distance that is just over 13 MILES, and where I stopped was still 2 or 3 miles from the flames. As the Crow Flies, an Easy 10-12 Miles Now just imagine how tall those flames had to be, in order to see them from that distance. I'm thinkin' 100 feet Minimum.