EISPIRATEN

mattmaxon wrote:The satellites (Aqua, & Terra) have made two passes overhead with no new "Thermal Anomalies" Fire detections

The worst maybe behind us for now.

mattmaxon wrote:The MODIS is aging with no new detections!

It may well be true.... Oh Please Oh Please Oh Please

HikeUp wrote:Updates from the Mt. Wilson dudes regarding plans for "back fires".

Layne Cantrell wrote:

HikeUp wrote:Updates from the Mt. Wilson dudes regarding plans for "back fires".

::sigh::

They're dicking around with some sort of controlled burn near Mt Wilson. Check out the cam. It was beautiful and smoke-free the whole day until they started messing around with this.

Again, is Mt Wilson even threatened anymore? This is weird, fishy stuff.

The Incident Commanders have talked about a firing operation to remove the unburned fuel below Mt. Wilson, and to tie the fire together. That will allow earlier access as the mountain will be fire safe after the unburned fuel is gone, and we won't have to wait for the fire to get there on it's own



(a) Redbox Road will be HARD CLOSED AND LOCKED sometime
after midnight tonight,

(b) you will not be able to drive into the back of the
Observatory as that road will be closed as well,

(c) the big parking lot at Skyline Park is the safety area
for us here on the mountain should anything jump lines or get
out of control. I have been assured we will be very safe as
we will shelter in the parking lot, and

(d) three burns will be started. The first burn will be hand
ignited going east. The second will be the north slope using
a helitorch. The final one will be on the east side of Redbox
Road and will be ignited with ping pong balls.

Again, I have been advised that we will all be safe and there
is no cause for concern. Safety has been at the forefront of
this operational plan by fire experts. I have fire-protective
gear. After the burns are completed, broadcast engineers will
have better access to the hill.

Keep in mind this very important point: NO TRAFFIC WILL BE
ALLOWED ON THE ROADS before, during and for a few hours after
the burn operation. The definition of "few" remains to be
determined, and Murphy lives, but at least there is an end
in sight.

It was explained to me that this burn-out operation is being
done for addition protection against future fire events and the
Santa Ana Winds. Without the burn, fire officials are concerned
that for a few weeks plus, we would have hot spots that could
quickly re-ignite and cause a catastrophe in a wind-driven event.
We don't need that.

Dennis Doty, Mt. Wilson

cougarmagic wrote:http://www.theskichannel.com/news/skine ... ki-Channel
(snipped) I hope we can find out soon how much of the trees did (or did not) burn.

Layne Cantrell wrote:They're dicking around with some sort of controlled burn near Mt Wilson. Check out the cam. It was beautiful and smoke-free the whole day until they started messing around with this.

cougarmagic wrote:

Layne Cantrell wrote:They're dicking around with some sort of controlled burn near Mt Wilson. Check out the cam. It was beautiful and smoke-free the whole day until they started messing around with this.

This is pure, honest sentiment - "you know, I think I've seen enough smoke already!!!"

We'll be smoke free soon. Look forward to that first cool, clear fall day. It's coming.

By the way, I'm proud to report it has been over 24 hours since I have looked at a MODIS map. I think I had a problem. The first step is admitting it. 8)

HikeUp wrote:3 day time lapse of fire...

Hikin_Jim wrote:

HikeUp wrote:3 day time lapse of fire...

Does that come with prozac?

Concerns rise about mudslides in areas burned by Station fire

September 16, 2009 | 12:52 pm

With the biggest fire in Los Angeles County history about 91% contained, concern is shifting to the threat of flash floods and mudslides.

The Station fire has blackened more than 160,000 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains, leaving barren and eroded hillsides towering over Los Angeles. When the winter rains start, there is little vegetation left in the burn areas to prevent water, silt, rocks and branches from coursing down steep canyons and ravines toward thousands of homes.

Although mudslides are a regular occurrence after fires, authorities are worried that this year’s flows could contain larger amounts of debris than usual. The San Gabriel mountains are made up of rock types that easily shatter and crumble.

“A lot of these slopes are already shedding substantial debris down into the channels – fine sediments and rock falls,” said Richard Hadley, spokesman for a team of scientists, engineers and other experts assembled by the U.S. Forest Service to assess the effect of the fire.

Debris flows off of these hills can be “almost like flowing concrete,” he said. “And on these really steep slopes, there can be a lot of power behind it.” The intense heat from the blaze can also cause the soil to effectively seal itself, resulting in even larger and faster flows, he said.

The so-called Burn Area Emergency Response Team is studying satellite imagery and conducting soil tests to determine where the effects of the fire have been most severe. With that information, it will model water flows, in order to identify the communities that are most at risk and recommend measures to protect lives and property. Possible safety measures include putting in temporary barriers to divert the flows, officials said.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works oversees an elaborate flood-control system, including 14 major damns, about 500 miles of open channels and 3,000 miles of storm drains that dump water into the Pacific Ocean.

Nine basins have also been carved into the hills in the affected area to trap silt, rocks and vegetation before storm flows reach urban areas, said Mark Pestrella, public works deputy director. “The system works very well every year, year in and year out,” Pestrella said. But he cautioned that some residences, particularly those located at the foot of burned slopes, could still be at risk.