Bobcat Fire in West Fork
I think you're right, which means it's less than two miles from Wilson
and Harvard.
The tankers were hitting upper Santa Anita/Manzanita Ridge hard right before sunset.
Lower down the fire in Clamshell Canyon is threatening Arcadia above Elkins and Highland Oaks.
[Edited to add updated images of overnight fire progression.]
So I'm hazy on the intent here. The last few days the fire was slowly creeping down the hillside. I don't know how difficult putting these out really is, but this thing was moving SO slowly. It couldn't be put out before burning Chantry Flat, and now threatening Mt Wilson? Was it the plan to fight it at the bottom?
Well, it's not clear if any structures have burned at the several affected recreational areas. I haven't heard of any property loss. Assuming they saved cabins and buildings, this was their primary intent after evacuating everyone. For days they've been constructing lines of defense around and inside these areas with vulnerable structures. If you watch the raw news footage you can hear chainsaws constantly going in the background at Monrovia Canyon Park. The Pack Station reported that the helicopters were dropping water on cabin sites in Big Santa Anita. Also, limited resources and smoke issues have hindered the aerial assault. Keep in mind too that this fire is immense, covering a large area with some dense canopy and steep terrain.
Its not considered an error although I think the fire operations 'surprised' them. Like you said, they had it, and then they didnt....badly.dima wrote: ↑So I'm hazy on the intent here. The last few days the fire was slowly creeping down the hillside. I don't know how difficult putting these out really is, but this thing was moving SO slowly. It couldn't be put out before burning Chantry Flat, and now threatening Mt Wilson? Was it the plan to fight it at the bottom?
I don't think they ever had it under control. They only claimed a small percent containment on the east front, and that was due to the previous Ranch Fire burn scar. Also, I could tell that the wind shifted yesterday, because it was less smokey in the cities to the south where I live, and the towercam on Wilson was getting smoked in. So the wind started pushing the fire upcanyon.
Is there a "formal" name for the ridge between Big Santa Anita-Winter Creek and Little Santa Anita?
Any way...I hope they can keep it out of Little Santa Anita.
One of those Arcadia webcams shows the fire making a run up the east face of this ridge towards the San Olene Communication Site at the top of 2N41.2
Any way...I hope they can keep it out of Little Santa Anita.
One of those Arcadia webcams shows the fire making a run up the east face of this ridge towards the San Olene Communication Site at the top of 2N41.2
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davidwiese
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Can confirm. Last evening the dark plume started blowing mostly west/southwest. I live in Silver Lake and it was coming right overhead, which it hadn't done before.Sean wrote: ↑I don't think they ever had it under control. They only claimed a small percent containment on the east front, and that was due to the previous Ranch Fire burn scar. Also, I could tell that the wind shifted yesterday, because it was less smokey in the cities to the south where I live, and the towercam on Wilson was getting smoked in. So the wind started pushing the fire upcanyon.
The water tank at the top of San Olene road is named Santa Anita Ridge.
The Friends of BSAC call the portion west of 4101 Manzanita Ridge on their website and map.
Booooo. Adams Pack Station facebook page has an update. The relevant text:
I am just re-posting what I posted on our cabin owners page.. I really am unable to say much else at the moment.
"Good early morning friends. So much happened yesterday and I know emotions have been both hopeful and grim. At the moment, noone knows for curtain what the canyon will look like once the fire subsides. The reports I received from firefighters who braved working in this area, were, that it appeared that much, if not all of the main canyon burned (First Water Trail towards Sturtevant Trail). How far north the fire went is unknown and in which direction the fire ran up is unknown. Until we go in there, we won't know if any cabins made it through the burn. For curtain, the fire was seen going up the San Olin Canyon and rolling up towards upper winter creek. Noone could say exactly where it traveled from there, however I spoke with the superintendent of Mt. Wilson Observatory early yesterday evening and he was able to see the south side of Mt. Zion burning from there at the time. I'm sure with all the online apps and links to maps, you may or have already gotten some answers as to what has been over run by fire. I know there isn't much information here you probably can't already look up. However, it's very difficult for me to say that it appears that as of yesterday evening, the pack station and the forest sevice structures were saved. This was due to efforts made by key individuals who I will forever be indebted to and will always hold firm in my heart for doing what they did. I know they would say it was their job, but I know that they went above and beyond in the face of fire and uncertain safety to do what they did, because they cared about this place, the history and these mountains. I feel a level of gratitude that I have never felt before and yet my heart breaks for every single one of you in the canyon. For the loss and/or for the agonizing unknown. I won't speak of what I don't know, so I continue to pray and hope for the best outcome for everyone. It truly feels unreal that I am posting these very words about our precious canyon. This historic gem of a canyon will live one way or another. I know that as the days pass and the smoke settles, we will come together to figure out how. I send each and every one of you all my love."
The SW front alone is now about 6.4 miles long stretching from the West Fork to Newcomb's Pass to Manzanita Ridge to San Olene road to Arcadia.
I hope Sturtevant and the private cabins survived. Looks like they're all getting overrun.
I hope Sturtevant and the private cabins survived. Looks like they're all getting overrun.
This is pretty remarkable...
...shows the fire almost reaching 643 Cloverleaf Dr in Monrovia but the firebreak held it, and after reviewing the nights footage from this camera it looks like the firebreak held. You can see the firefighters working along the break
Edit: Thanks for fixing my video link. I also found a link to all the SCE webcams showing where they are on a map http://www.alertwildfire.org/orangecoca ... ?v=81e002f
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headsizeburrito
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Anyone want to get out there and see if my summit register on West Mermaid/4065 is still there? Just look for the orange puddle. ?
But very sad to see this happen, even if I suppose it was inevitable. Wishing the mountains and all of you the best from the other side of the country.
Once the fires are gone it'll be interesting to see what kind of closures happen and for how long.
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davidwiese
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I plan on it once the area opens back up. Can probably do all 3 in one day...headsizeburrito wrote: ↑Anyone want to get out there and see if my summit register on West Mermaid/4065 is still there? Just look for the orange puddle. ?
But very sad to see this happen, even if I suppose it was inevitable. Wishing the mountains and all of you the best from the other side of the country.
Once the fires are gone it'll be interesting to see what kind of closures happen and for how long.
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davidwiese
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...and who posts about their "friend" going for a stroll in said closure area.headsizeburrito wrote: ↑Once the fires are gone it'll be interesting to see what kind of closures happen and for how long.
This is on the ridge north of Manzanita, only about a half mile SE from Mt Wilson...
Winds are blowing NW, and stronger than in recent days, judging from the various webcam timelapses. Has also been a lot of aircraft activity working around Crystal Lake, and the fire seems to be advancing up towards Mt Waterman and the ski area (and very nice disc golf course) up there.
For those of you who were around for the Station Fire, how long were things closed after that? I understand there was a lot of road damage, which hopefully won't be the case now... but were you able to hike into any burned areas the following year?
Winds are blowing NW, and stronger than in recent days, judging from the various webcam timelapses. Has also been a lot of aircraft activity working around Crystal Lake, and the fire seems to be advancing up towards Mt Waterman and the ski area (and very nice disc golf course) up there.
For those of you who were around for the Station Fire, how long were things closed after that? I understand there was a lot of road damage, which hopefully won't be the case now... but were you able to hike into any burned areas the following year?
Some front range areas opened in 2011. The rest was closed until May 2014, so about five years. It took even longer to reopen certain trails that hadn't been restored yet.
Check out the Station Fire Thread.
If I remember correctly the Station fire behavior was quite different, it seemed to hoover in each area and slowly meander and spread out like an unstoppable blob or amoeba.
This fire has exploded with lightning speed and advanced like gunpowder. I wonder what's happening in the interior of the burned areas. My hope would be that it moved fast enough to clear out the understory and blast onward to the next area without lingering to kill off every last living thing in all of that mature forest. Time will tell.
I'm wondering if there's a wildlife stampede going on in foothill areas right now.
This fire has exploded with lightning speed and advanced like gunpowder. I wonder what's happening in the interior of the burned areas. My hope would be that it moved fast enough to clear out the understory and blast onward to the next area without lingering to kill off every last living thing in all of that mature forest. Time will tell.
I'm wondering if there's a wildlife stampede going on in foothill areas right now.
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headsizeburrito
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