| September 2, 2009 | (Use j/k keys to navigate)  Email to a friend  Permalink |
Wildfires in Southern California
Angeles National Forest, in the hills outside of Los Angeles currently has several wildfires tearing through it, the largest of which - named the Station Fire - has so far burned over 140,000 acres, destroyed nearly 100 structures, and claimed the lives of two firefighters whose vehicle fell from a road into a steep canyon. Evacuation orders are in place for thousands in communities around the city, and residents of Los Angeles itself are contending with thick smoke and ash hanging in the air, causing air quality to drop to unhealthful levels in many parts. Currently, the Station Fire is estimated to be 22% contained, and favorable weather appears to be aiding the efforts of the firefighters. (41 photos total)
A modified Martin Mars seaplane tanker aircraft drops water trying to contain a fire threat to a historic observatory on Mount Wilson northeast of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 01, 2009. Mount Wilson is home not only to the observatory but numerous television, radio and cell phone antennas serving the metropolitan area. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) #
A firefighter photographs caged tigers awaiting transport in a trailer as workers and volunteers evacuate animals from the Wildlife Waystation in Little Tujunga Canyon as the Station Fire draws nearer on September 1, 2009 near Tujunga, California. The wildlife sanctuary houses a large number of tigers, lions, bears, chimpanzees, mountain lions and numerous other animals in the brush-covered mountains outside of the city. (David McNew/Getty Images) #
From a lakeside dock in Yucaipa Regional Park, the McHenry family cheers as a Sikorsky S64 Sky Crane firefighting helicopter goes "in the dip" for another load of water in Yucaipa, California on Tuesday, Sept 1, 2009. The parents and their son spent the night camping in the park after receiving a mandatory evacuation order from their nearby home. (AP Photo/Los Angeles Times, Don Bartletti) #
More links and information
Station Fire - InciWeb entry
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection - Official site with situation updates
L.A. Now - Wildfires - L.A. Times Blog
I think periodocly - fire retardent and water should be flown over the areas
to keep the area moist and the fire retardent would prevent the forest from blowing up in fire & smoke. It would not only help the forest trees etc. but the animals and people who live in the area. I would think that the fire dept. would have some ideas of how to prevent the fires.
I know you never know when a "Fire Bug" will deceide to start a fire. BUT
if it was moist and fire retardent over the area it might not burn as much.
But then what do I know. I'm only a housewife. I can cook, clean etc
Having once had a house fire and lost all, I relate to the damage that is currently testing the survival of humans, animals and homes. I bow to my knees and fold my hands and pray that the cries are heard and the pain is felt and an end to the destruction is soon.
The courage of the firefighter is greater and stronger than any other position in life. Thank you all for your lack of selfishness, your strength in numbers and your desire to hold such a humble job.
Those of us from across the country can not even fathom what you are all going through, but do know this...our hearts go out to all of you , those whom have lost their homes and livelihood, and those that are out there braving the flames to try and stop the devestation and save what is left. God bless all of you...
Thank God, yes, I said Thank God for people who are willing to help those in trouble. Shame on the ones who cause harm to others. God does know who you are. He" WILL" sort out who is good and who is evil. The people who are risking their lives to fight these fires are real heros. Keep them in your prayers.
Thank God for the brave men & women that fight fires as well as our military fighting the war for our safety. I did spend 21 years in Service and served all over the world, including a tour in Korea and two tours in Vietnam, and another front in support of Vietnam from Thailand.
Thanks to all who serve and may God Bless. I am now in retirement but now watch the news every day. George Chavis
The pictures are indeed impressive and reveal that the destruction is much more than "just a little fire." Those who fight the fires, and I also mean those who do it year after year, Kudos to You all... I am sure you are qualified for many other less-dangerous careers but your dedication is no doubt something that comes from within and is not merely learned. The mechanics and technicalities are of course learned by the firefighters and other people there in the firestorm but this only makes them better and makes their future more secure. Meanwhile, we all thank you and prayers for you are deserved and merited.
As for those who use this forum to show their ignorance of the Eternal Creator, I feel sorry for you. I outright pity you and your efforts to show you are somehow superior to what you consider a "notion of God." However, there is always hope: I know, in fact, a Man who has the cure for your beliefs and the cost is free, nothing to prove and, most of all, you do not have to make an attempt to impress us who do in fact believe.
First my deepest sympathy for the Hall and Qiunones families. Next is a thank you to the owners of Doger's Stadium for freely opening up their "house" for thousands of firefighters and their families to assemble and remember two of its own. I have never seen such a sight. Hundreds of fire trucks encircled the stadium. Thank you to LA City FD and Orange Co. FD for filling in our LA Co stations so we could all be together as one family. Thank you to the 3,000 firefighters still fighting the Station Fire who could not be with their fire service family for this memorial. Many fire fighters from other states flew in or drove to Calif. or from other parts of Calif. (Thank you if you were there) to help us deal with this reality that our sons and daughters and husbands and wives who have lived through this hell now have this to deal with this loss and carry it with them. I sat with my son all the while looking at the pictures of the two men that were with him at Camp 16 who did not come home. I very well could have been looking at a photo of my own son. He does not want to talk about it very much yet. I pray that he will be able to come to peace with his loss and the fact that he lived when his 'brothers' died. One of the correction offices praised my son and those who saved them. He smiled and asked about the inmates who were under his care that day. He was glad that those who wanted to pay their respects were allowed to be there with us. I am proud of my son and ALL who serve others and who are brave enough, strong enough, and courageous enough to be willing to risk loosing everything. Gratitude and Appreciation
May the Good Lord give these folks the common sense to move out of this area of NO CONFIDENCE. It will be far safefer for us all.
Please God, just bless those peoples hearts and keep them and their families' safe.
TO ALL INVOLVED THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND LOVE FOR LIFE. I AM PROUD OF MY SON THE FIRE FIGHTER HE FOUGHT AT THESE FIRES. I PRAY EACH TIME HE IS CALLED OUT TO FIGHT FOR THOSE IN NEED AND HAVE BECOME SO APPRECIATIVE FOR WHAT ALL FIRE FIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS AND OTHERS INVOLVED DO FOR LIVING BEINGS.
JACKSON IN SAN LUIS OBISPO cAL.
I can't say what department I work for cus ill get in trouble but let me tell you I worked this fire and all the fires going four years back. Our fire fighters are amazing people.... all of them. They do respond to many, many other issues all year long that most people overlook. If we did not have them there to do those jobs I can tell you that our fire season would be more catastrophic and everyones daily life would be much different. There not just sitting on there ass. I can tell you as hard as they work in the middle of a fire is harder than most people work all year. Every year firefighters loose there lives to protect us and our property. Most people get up and go to work half heartedly everyday...you hate you supervisor or you fudge a report........con someone else into doing it, Or simply just half ass everything and say they didn't do it of they didn't know. A fire crew could just let your house burn down cus they are tired of didn't get there 15 min brake. O how about not coming to get the rattle snake in your garage cus there on lunch brake. But they don't, these men really care. Some day at least once your going to need them and there going to be there for you.....ready to lay their life on the line for someone they don't even know. When you wouldn't even stop to help some one with a flat on the freeway. ...... o yeah and as smart and cool under stress as you have to be to even get that job all you firefighter haters prop couldn't even pass the test.
Quality photos!
This is what helps to make the world a crazy place.
Adelaide, Australia
Thank God, and thank every firefighter who fought this beast! You are ALL Hero's..I hope the people who lost things can go on and thank God for the fact that they are still here.....Our prayers go to ALL of you : )
867 First of all Don't put me in the categoty of an Athiest! I DO BELIEVE IN GOD!! What-ever you believe in is your business!
You call me hostile. Well I will agree with you to a point.
I'm hostile because it breaks my heart to hear of someones home burnt down, losing everything they own!
It make me hostile of all the animals scrambling around for fear of being burnt, looking for a way out. Have you erver seen hundreds of burn animals after the fire, I have! Not a pretty sight!
It makes me hostile to hear family members crying for the loss of a father, brother, uncle, grand father or maybe a mother, sister, aunt, whether it be a Fireman, policemen, forestry people, a mother to be with a child unable to have its father in its life!
It makes me hostile when this beautiful land that God greated is purposely
set afire for the glory of its flames.
God didn't put us on this earth to destroy one another!
I am so tired of hearing of the destruction of, not only what nature does, but what humans add to it, too! Some by accident, some because of the enjoyment they get. I see no enjoyment in the loss of anything that gives people a reason for living!!
The only word in All of the worlds dictionaries that has the strongest meaning,is the word LOVE. GOD IS LOVE. HE is ALWAYS in my heart, my mind and my soul, and most of HE WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR US ALL, no matter how you worship, or not. I know not everyone believes in God, but don't condemn us that do, either.
You said it right, all of these people who help others in all fields of life ARE OUR HEROS , AND GOD BLESS YOU!
You know 867, as I re-read this letter, I realized I am hostile in some respects. Why, because I love this land, I love this country and most of all I LOVE GOD. I don't want to see it destroyed, by anyone or any thing. It just make me so angry that there are people who do!
Having been raised by a firefighter father who loved his job, I understand the heartache of losing a hero. My dad became a Battalion Chief for Stockton, CA department and lost his life because of an arson fire.
My heart goes out to the families who have lost loved ones and loved homes. There are new memories to make and hope for overcoming any brokenness life brings.
I think God would not take it out on good people. He has his time for all things. We should just best that alot of people did not get hurt. The brave men and women who fight these fires every day, our god angels doing his work. May God best them a
anonymous 9/13/09 11:28 PM
WHO EVER SET THIS FIRE WILL REAP WHAT THEY SEW, AND 10 TIMES MORE. GOD WILL SEE TO THAT.
We live in the mountains too so we are well aware of the danger and feelings from fire like this. In fact, we are survivors of the Westlake Fire.
Our property is NOW PROTECTED with a FIREBREAK SYSTEM. They take the same retardant that they drop on the fires and give you a gigantic tank of the stuff, hooked up to a high pressure hose run by a gigantic pressure tank of c02. It will shoot 200 ft. We plan if a fire is coming to use it to fireproof our place. Why don't you all look into a system like this? It cost us under $2000.
I am from Canada and I was happy to see the picture of our Martin Mars water tanker helping to put out your fires. I understand it did a great job. We have always been very proud of it.
Muy bien cabrones chingenle los felicito se necesita mucho valor para hacer lo que hacen que Dios los bendiga Y CUIDENSE MUCHO
Outstanding pictures. The closeups are unbelievable! It is as though I am right there. So sad to see the destruction and the loss of everything to some people. The firefighters did a tremendous job. It is very tragic for those who lived in that area. How are they going to rebuild? Where does one begin? How can one survive the paper work and time it takes to process it? How does one get the courage to take that first step to forge ahead? Life is full of unanswered questions when a catastrophy like this is thrust upon us. What are all these people doing now to get their life back to gether?
Thank you all, that fight to keep us safe! And God willing you will be kept safe as well. There are no words the the citizens can say that will ever repay the sacrifices you all face in these fires. But please recieve our thanks for all you do.
Incredible firefighting and photography. Loved the picture of the Borad Bomber dropping it's pink, fireretardant chemicals.