EISPIRATEN

AlanK wrote:Let's keep politics out of this. I do not blame Kit Fox for his long political post because he die not start it, but DamOTclese has, in effect, offered a truce. Or at least a cease fire.

Kit Fox wrote:

mattmaxon wrote:There needs to be an investigation as to why this happened, they need to hold the people responsible accountable

It happened because most of the area hasn't burned since the 50s. I'm going to catch some heat, but, the proper thing to do is protect the structures, and let nature take its course. Fire is natural, but the tree hugger motto of protecting the forest by never allowing it to burn is both unnatural, and unhealthy for the forest. The same thing happened during the La Brea fire. Old growth was allowed to burn itself out.

It could also be USFS policy to let things burn when they're not threatening residential houses. I would rather see houses burn than the forest.

I'd rather see the forest burn more often, stopping for 50 plus years only makes it worse.

Five people who refused to evacuate threatened areas reported they were trapped at a ranch near Gold Creek, Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said. A sheriff's helicopter was unable to immediately reach them because of intense fire activity, Whitmore said, but would try after the flames passed.

"What this says is, 'Listen, listen, listen,'" Whitmore said. "Those people were told to get out two days ago, and now we are putting our people in danger to get them out."

Over the weekend, three people who refused to evacuate were burned when they were overrun by flames, including a couple who had sought refuge in a hot tub, authorities said.

Station Fire biggest in county history since 1897
By Dan Abendschein
Posted: 08/31/2009 02:22:18 PM PDT

At 105,000 acres, the Station Fire now appears to be the biggest fire in Los Angeles County's history since 1897, according to a county fire department historian.

Dave Boucher, a retired firefighter who serves as the historian for the fire department and a local fire history museum, said the 1897 fire burned down huge swaths of the Angeles National Forest.

"In 1897 it burned over the whole forest," said Boucher. He said he was not sure how big the acreage of the 1897 fire, and the Station Fire could actually be bigger.

Other notable fires have included the 1970 Clampitt fire, which also burned about 105,000 acres, from Agoura Hills to Newhall. That fire was actually two separate fires that converged, said Boucher, rather than a single fire.

The Station Fire also ranks among the top 20 in size in state history, according to state government records, around 15th in size. It could still get a lot bigger, said Boucher.

"By the end it could be 125,000 to 150,000 acres," said Boucher.

At 150,000, it would move in to the top 10 in state history.

Bigger local fires of note in the last few years have included the Witch fire in October of 2007 in San Diego County, which consumed 197,990 acres. The biggest recorded in state history, according to state records, is the Cedar fire in San Diego County, which burned 273,246 acres in October of 2003.

AlanK wrote:From the Pasadena Star News.

Station Fire biggest in county history since 1897
By Dan Abendschein
Posted: 08/31/2009 02:22:18 PM PDT
At 105,000 acres, the Station Fire now appears to be the biggest fire in Los Angeles County's history since 1897, according to a county fire department historian.
Dave Boucher, a retired firefighter who serves as the historian for the fire department and a local fire history museum, said the 1897 fire burned down huge swaths of the Angeles National Forest.
"In 1897 it burned over the whole forest," said Boucher. He said he was not sure how big the acreage of the 1897 fire, and the Station Fire could actually be bigger.
Other notable fires have included the 1970 Clampitt fire, which also burned about 105,000 acres, from Agoura Hills to Newhall. That fire was actually two separate fires that converged, said Boucher, rather than a single fire.
The Station Fire also ranks among the top 20 in size in state history, according to state government records, around 15th in size. It could still get a lot bigger, said Boucher.
"By the end it could be 125,000 to 150,000 acres," said Boucher.
At 150,000, it would move in to the top 10 in state history.
Bigger local fires of note in the last few years have included the Witch fire in October of 2007 in San Diego County, which consumed 197,990 acres. The biggest recorded in state history, according to state records, is the Cedar fire in San Diego County, which burned 273,246 acres in October of 2003.

It is interesting that there may have been a fire about this size about 120 years ago, way before man was trying very hard to put them out. This is not to argue one way or another about whether or not to fight forest fires. But ths idea that large fires are the creation of modern humans is an oversimplification.

Mike P wrote:(OK, now I am off some of your Christmas card lists )

DamOTclese wrote:

HikeUp wrote: How many fire-making plant or animal species are there in Earth's biosphere? I can count them on one hand.

I'm going to head South to get out of the smoke and get a Motel room for the evening.

Be glad your not in Tenessee where the fire flies will burn your house down!

HikeUp wrote:

Hikin_Jim wrote:My mom was evac'd from Briggs Terrace yesterday. House is still there as of this afternoon.

Good to hear HJ! I have a few friends in the same general area that had to be evac'd too. Not fun.

mattmaxon wrote:I personally am grieving for my backyard playground I'm at Stage 5 Acceptance

DamOTclese wrote: Mount Waterman is being threatened.

Hell, Crystal Lake could get hit again!

AlanK wrote:Let's keep politics out of this. I do not blame Kit Fox for his long political post because he die not start it, but DamOTclese has, in effect, offered a truce. Or at least a cease fire.

HikeUp wrote:I kind of view these fires as sort of a natural event 'enhanced' by man. It's natural, but it may or may not be of the natural magnitude. Either way, nature will recover as long as we don't do something stupid in response (like plant unnatural foliage to prevent erosion and mudslides, etc.).

Kind of like the Exxon Valdez oil spill. It's just oil, for pete's sake!!!