Pitched battle underway to save Mt. Wilson from fire as officials cite progress elsewhere

Firefighters made significant progress today in the Station fire, but a tense battle was underway this afternoon to save the communication centers atop Mt. Wilson from flames.

Officials announced this afternoon that most of the evacuation orders in La Cañada Flintridge and La Crescenta have been lifted. Crews were making good progress during the day on the fire's southern, northern and western fronts.

But firefighters were frantically trying to save the historic astronomical observatory and dozens of critical  TV and radio antennas from destruction. By 3 p.m., the fire was approaching closer than ever from two directions: one-half mile to the north and three-quarters of a mile to the west.

“We expect the fire to hit the Mt. Wilson facilities between 5 p.m. today and 2 a.m. Wednesday morning,” said Los Angeles County Fire Department Deputy Chief James Powers. “Right now, we’re conducting controlled burns around the perimeter in preparation for the impending fire's arrival. We’re also bringing in trucks and special equipment to coat all of the structures with protective gel and foam if necessary. We do not plan to cover everything with a gooey mess.” 

The equipment was driven in on the two-lane, five-mile long Mt. Wilson Road, which intersects Angeles Crest Highway. Access to the road was restricted to firefighters and law enforcement. Fire lined several sections of the road on both sides, and rocks were falling from denuded hillsides.

As he spoke from his ersatz headquarters in the observatory’s main office, myriad controlled burns set beneath canyon oaks and old incensed cedars cloaked the mountaintop with dense acrid smoke.

The air was also filled with the ear-splitting, blaring sounds of an observatory fire alarm system.

Chainsaws could be heard in every direction in the surrounding forest. Massive earth movers were being unloaded off flatbed trucks nearby. Powers said authorities had deliberately delayed diverting firefighters and equipment to the scene until the complex was in imminent danger.

“That time is now,” Powers said. Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion Chief Steve Martin said, “We are going to burn, cut, foam and gel. And if that doesn’t work, we’re going to pray. This place is worth a lot, but it’s not worth dying for. ”

In a worst-case scenario, firefighters were expected to retreat to the safety of the observatory parking lot or seek refuge in the concrete and steel basement of the 105-year-old, 100-inch telescope observatory.

A Martin Mars air tanker, also known as a Super Scooper, dropped 7,500 gallons of water on Mt. Wilson, California Department of Forestry and Fire ProtectionCapt. Scott Visyak said.

--Louis Sahagun at Mt. Wilson, Corina Knoll at Hansen Dam and Ann M. Simmons in Glendale

Photo: Flames from the Station fire approach Mt. Wilson Observatory in the Angeles National Forest. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Photos: Southland wildfires	Interactive map: The Station fire

Fire now 22% contained; some evacuations lifted, but Mt. Wilson still threatened

Firefighters died in effort to escape

Evacuee who may have lost home awaits word on animals left behind

Mt. Wilson webcam: The 150-Foot Solar Tower

L.A. County Fire Department: The latest

Twitter: Follow @latimescitydesk | @latimesfires

Comments

[cs]

thanks for the updates - where can i find out exactly which evacuation zones were lifted? my parents were evacuated a couple days ago, and i would like to know if they are allowed to re-enter their home.

thanks!

[Ranjit Vishwanath]

Why has the Los Angeles County Fire Department officials not utilizing the services of the Canadian Super Scooper Planes to fight and put out the fires in the initial stages of the fires? These planes have proven over the years to be fast and effective. Now after we have lost lives, property and created a massive health problem to the area residents, the Fire Department is thinking of using these planes. I urge the governor to investigate this issue.

[siris]

The observatory is 105 yrs old. But the 100-inch telescope dome where fire fighters might seek refuge was built in 1917. Hopefully they'll all be ok.

[MacMan375]

Ranjit,
That might not do any good, as he would find himself investigating his lead in the state's firefighting funding. He has said over the years that he was going to fix this. He most evidently has other priorities.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/09/evergreen-supertanker/

Finally the 747 is invited in! After the fire is 190 square miles in size.

Where was that plane last Wednesday afternoon, when we really needed it?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gbAP1XXy8xpaikC2hyKfAaFsiL3gD9AEO3G00

The state has spent $106.5 million of its $182 million emergency firefighting fund — just two months into the fiscal year, Department of Finance spokesman H.D. Palmer said. Last year's emergency fire costs were close to $500 million. The budget was increased this year from $69 million in 2008-09 to more accurately reflect annual firefighting costs, he said.
The Governator: "It's important for everyone to know that we have the money available to fight these fires no matter how many fires we have."
California has also applied for six grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help fight fires.
If they are approved, the federal government would reimburse California for 75 percent of the costs to contain and put out those fires, said Kelly Huston, assistant secretary of the California Emergency Management Agency.
The grants only apply to extraordinary wildfires that force local and state governments to incur large costs, "because of the magnitude of the fire and the threat to life and property," Huston said.

So maybe the Governator’s thinking is that it costs too much to own the aircraft (say five 747 tankers, used for freight and training on off season and leased out to our neighboring states when we can free them up from our own fires), so just let it go, and get 75% from the Feds?