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===Southern California=== |
===Southern California=== |
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====Los Angeles County==== |
====Los Angeles County==== |
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*The '''Morris Fire''' began on 25 August near Morris Dam in the [[Angeles National Forest]]. It has burned 2,168 acres and is 95% contained as of 2 September |
*The '''Morris Fire''' began on 25 August near Morris Dam in the [[Angeles National Forest]]. It has burned 2,168 acres and is 95% contained as of 2 September, with full containment expected on 3 September.<ref name=morris01>{{cite_web |title=Morris Fire |url=http://www.inciweb.org/incident/1852/ |date=2 September 2009 |publisher=[[InciWeb]] ([[United States Forest Service]]) |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> This fire is thought to have been caused by [[arson]].<ref name=morris02>{{title=Morris Fire was arson, official says |url=http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_13235066 |date=30 August 2009 |publisher=[[Pasadena Star-News]] |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> |
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*The '''Station Fire''' started on 26 August near the [[U.S. Forest Service]] ranger station on the [[Angeles Crest Highway]] ([[California State Route 2|State Highway 2]]).<ref name=station01>{{cite_web |title=New fire breaks out near Angeles Crest Highway; forces road closure |url=http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/rds_search/ci_13209642?IADID=Search-www.pasadenastarnews.com-www.pasadenastarnews.com |date=26 August 2009 |publisher=[[Pasadena Star-News]] |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref><ref name=station02>{{cite_web |title=Station Fire |url=http://inciweb.org/incident/1856/ |date=2 September 2009 |publisher=[[InciWeb]] ([[United States Forest Service]]) |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> As of 2 September, it has burned 140,150 acres (56,700 ha) in the [[Angeles National Forest]], destroying nearly 100 structures, including 64 homes.<ref name=station03>{{cite_web |title=Station Fire Evening Update Sept. 2, 2009 |url=http://inciweb.org/incident/article/9398/ |date=2 September 2009 |publisher=[[InciWeb]] ([[United States Forest Service]]) |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> Two firefighters were killed on 30 August when their fire truck plunged off a cliff while attempting to escape the flames.<ref name=station04>{{cite_web |title=Firefighters Killed in 'Station Fire' Remembered |url=http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-firefighters-bio,0,7708207.story |date=1 September 2009 |publisher=[[KTLA-TV]] (Channel 5) |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> The blaze threatens 12,000 structures in the National Forest and nearby communities like [[La Cañada Flintridge, California|La Cañada Flintridge]], [[Glendale, CA|Glendale]], [[Acton, CA|Acton]], [[La Crescenta-Montrose, CA|La Crescenta]], [[Pasadena, CA|Pasadena]], [[Littlerock, CA|Littlerock]] and [[Altadena, CA|Altadena]], as well as the [[Sunland, CA|Sunland]] and [[Tujunga, CA|Tujunga]] neighborhoods of the City of Los Angeles.<ref name=station05>{{cite_web |title=Station Fire Evening Update Aug. 31, 2009 |url=http://inciweb.org/incident/article/9360/ |date=31 August 2009 |publisher=[[InciWeb]] ([[United States Forest Service]]) |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> Many of these areas faced mandatory evacuations as the flames drew near, but as of 2 September, most evacuation orders have been lifted.<ref name=station03/> The Station Fire has been burning on the slopes of [[Mount Wilson (California)|Mount Wilson]], threatening numerous television, radio and cellular telephone antennas on the summit, as well as the [[Mount Wilson Observatory]], which includes several historically significant telescopes and multimillion-dollar astronomical facilities operated by [[UCLA]], [[USC]], [[UC Berkeley]] and [[Georgia State University]].<ref name=station06>{{cite_news |last=Knoll |first=Corinna |coauthors=& Becerra, Hector. |title=TV, cellphone signals from Mt. Wilson at risk |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fire-mount-wilson31-2009aug31,0,6711216.story |date=31 August 2009 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> The cause of this fire is still unknown, but is suspected to be the result of human activity. As of 2 September, improving weather conditions have helped firefighters contain 28% of the fire at a cost of $21 million (USD), although the fire remains active, especially on the eastern front.<ref name=station07>{{cite_web |last=Bloomekatz |first=Ari B. |coauthors=& Smith, Roger. |title=Station fire pushes farther east to above Sierra Madre; cost of battle pegged at $21 million |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/station-fire-pushes-farther-east-to-above-sierra-madre-cost-of-battle-pegged-at-21-million.html |date=2 September 2009 |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> U.S. Forest Service firefighters expect the fire to be fully contained by 15 September.<ref name=station02/> |
*The '''Station Fire''' started on 26 August near the [[U.S. Forest Service]] ranger station on the [[Angeles Crest Highway]] ([[California State Route 2|State Highway 2]]).<ref name=station01>{{cite_web |title=New fire breaks out near Angeles Crest Highway; forces road closure |url=http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/rds_search/ci_13209642?IADID=Search-www.pasadenastarnews.com-www.pasadenastarnews.com |date=26 August 2009 |publisher=[[Pasadena Star-News]] |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref><ref name=station02>{{cite_web |title=Station Fire |url=http://inciweb.org/incident/1856/ |date=2 September 2009 |publisher=[[InciWeb]] ([[United States Forest Service]]) |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> As of 2 September, it has burned 140,150 acres (56,700 ha) in the [[Angeles National Forest]], destroying nearly 100 structures, including 64 homes.<ref name=station03>{{cite_web |title=Station Fire Evening Update Sept. 2, 2009 |url=http://inciweb.org/incident/article/9398/ |date=2 September 2009 |publisher=[[InciWeb]] ([[United States Forest Service]]) |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> Two firefighters were killed on 30 August when their fire truck plunged off a cliff while attempting to escape the flames.<ref name=station04>{{cite_web |title=Firefighters Killed in 'Station Fire' Remembered |url=http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-firefighters-bio,0,7708207.story |date=1 September 2009 |publisher=[[KTLA-TV]] (Channel 5) |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> The blaze threatens 12,000 structures in the National Forest and nearby communities like [[La Cañada Flintridge, California|La Cañada Flintridge]], [[Glendale, CA|Glendale]], [[Acton, CA|Acton]], [[La Crescenta-Montrose, CA|La Crescenta]], [[Pasadena, CA|Pasadena]], [[Littlerock, CA|Littlerock]] and [[Altadena, CA|Altadena]], as well as the [[Sunland, CA|Sunland]] and [[Tujunga, CA|Tujunga]] neighborhoods of the City of Los Angeles.<ref name=station05>{{cite_web |title=Station Fire Evening Update Aug. 31, 2009 |url=http://inciweb.org/incident/article/9360/ |date=31 August 2009 |publisher=[[InciWeb]] ([[United States Forest Service]]) |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> Many of these areas faced mandatory evacuations as the flames drew near, but as of 2 September, most evacuation orders have been lifted.<ref name=station03/> The Station Fire has been burning on the slopes of [[Mount Wilson (California)|Mount Wilson]], threatening numerous television, radio and cellular telephone antennas on the summit, as well as the [[Mount Wilson Observatory]], which includes several historically significant telescopes and multimillion-dollar astronomical facilities operated by [[UCLA]], [[USC]], [[UC Berkeley]] and [[Georgia State University]].<ref name=station06>{{cite_news |last=Knoll |first=Corinna |coauthors=& Becerra, Hector. |title=TV, cellphone signals from Mt. Wilson at risk |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fire-mount-wilson31-2009aug31,0,6711216.story |date=31 August 2009 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> The cause of this fire is still unknown, but is suspected to be the result of human activity. As of 2 September, improving weather conditions have helped firefighters contain 28% of the fire at a cost of $21 million (USD), although the fire remains active, especially on the eastern front.<ref name=station07>{{cite_web |last=Bloomekatz |first=Ari B. |coauthors=& Smith, Roger. |title=Station fire pushes farther east to above Sierra Madre; cost of battle pegged at $21 million |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/station-fire-pushes-farther-east-to-above-sierra-madre-cost-of-battle-pegged-at-21-million.html |date=2 September 2009 |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=3 September 2009}}</ref> U.S. Forest Service firefighters expect the fire to be fully contained by 15 September.<ref name=station02/> |
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Revision as of 11:00, 3 September 2009
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (September 2009) |
| August 2009 California Wildfires | |
|---|---|
 Detail from MODIS satellite image of Station Fire, 29 August 2009. | |
| Date(s) | August 2009 – present |
| Location | California |
| Statistics | |
| Burned area | More than 318,000 acres (129,000 ha) |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 2 |
The August 2009 California wildfires have burned more than 318,000 acres (129,000 hectares) of land since the beginning of the month, destroying hundreds of structures and killing two people. Many of these wildfires continue to burn into the month of September. Although fires burned many different regions of California in August, the month was especially notable for several very large fires which burned in Southern California, despite being outside of the normal fire season for that region.
The still-burning Station Fire, north of Los Angeles, is the largest and deadliest of these wildfires, having burned more than 140,000 acres (56,600 ha) and killed two firefighters since it began in late August. Another large fire was the La Brea Fire, which burned nearly 90,000 acres (36,400 ha) in Santa Barbara County earlier in the month. A state of emergency was also declared for the 7,800 acre (3,150 ha) Lockheed Fire in Santa Cruz County to the north.
Conditions
Sporadic fires are normal throughout California in the summer and fall as temperatures rise and rainfall drops, causing vegetation to die off and provide fuel for combustion. Three years of drought amplified these effects, making already fire-prone California ripe for wildfires. These fires may be ignited by natural sources like lightning, or through human activity.[1]
In Southern California, the normal wildfire season begins in October with the arrival of the infamous Santa Ana winds, and it is unusual to see fires spread so rapidly at other times of year. However, temperatures throughout the southern part of the state exceeded 100°F (38°C) for much of late August. The combination of high temperatures, low humidity and a large quantity of tinder-dry fuel, some of which had not burnt for decades, allowed some of the normal fires to quickly explode out of control despite the lack of winds to spread the flames. These conditions, along with extreme terrain in many undeveloped areas that impeded access to burn areas, made firefighting difficult.[1]
Notable fires
Dozens of fires burned throughout California in August 2009. Some of the most notable are listed here.
Northern California
Santa Cruz County
- The Lockheed Fire began on 12 August near the Lockheed Martin Space Systems campus in Santa Cruz County.[2][3] A total of 7,817 acres (3,163 ha) burned and thirteen structures were destroyed, including four seasonal cabins but no primary residences. No cause has been identified.[4] The communities of Swanton and Bonny Doon were evacuated and a state of emergency was declared by Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi on 14 August.[5] State fire crews achieved 100% containment on 23 August, at a cost of $26.6 million (USD).[4] Many hillsides burned by the Lockheed Fire had not burned since 1948 due to active fire suppression in the area. Some plant species endemic to the area, including the endangered Santa Cruz manzanita, propagate only after fire, potentially allowing these rare species to proliferate for the first time in decades.[6]
Southern California
Los Angeles County
- The Morris Fire began on 25 August near Morris Dam in the Angeles National Forest. It has burned 2,168 acres and is 95% contained as of 2 September, with full containment expected on 3 September.[7] This fire is thought to have been caused by arson.[8]
- The Station Fire started on 26 August near the U.S. Forest Service ranger station on the Angeles Crest Highway (State Highway 2).[9][10] As of 2 September, it has burned 140,150 acres (56,700 ha) in the Angeles National Forest, destroying nearly 100 structures, including 64 homes.[11] Two firefighters were killed on 30 August when their fire truck plunged off a cliff while attempting to escape the flames.[12] The blaze threatens 12,000 structures in the National Forest and nearby communities like La Cañada Flintridge, Glendale, Acton, La Crescenta, Pasadena, Littlerock and Altadena, as well as the Sunland and Tujunga neighborhoods of the City of Los Angeles.[13] Many of these areas faced mandatory evacuations as the flames drew near, but as of 2 September, most evacuation orders have been lifted.[11] The Station Fire has been burning on the slopes of Mount Wilson, threatening numerous television, radio and cellular telephone antennas on the summit, as well as the Mount Wilson Observatory, which includes several historically significant telescopes and multimillion-dollar astronomical facilities operated by UCLA, USC, UC Berkeley and Georgia State University.[14] The cause of this fire is still unknown, but is suspected to be the result of human activity. As of 2 September, improving weather conditions have helped firefighters contain 28% of the fire at a cost of $21 million (USD), although the fire remains active, especially on the eastern front.[15] U.S. Forest Service firefighters expect the fire to be fully contained by 15 September.[10]
References
- ^ a b Risling, Greg. (2 September 2009). "Huge wildfire portends bad Calif. fire season". Washington Post. Associated Press. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ Gabbert, Bill. (13 August 2009). "Lockheed fire near Santa Cruz, CA". Wildfire Today. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ Squires, Jennifer (13 August 2009). "Lockheed Fire update: No containment; Bonny Doon evacuated; McCrary home saved". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "Lockheed Fire Incident Information". California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. 23 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ "State of Emergency As Lockheed Fire Rages". KPIX-TV (CBS Channel 5). 14 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ Bookwalter, Genevieve. (19 August 2009). "Scientists excited about new rare plants: recent flames could prompt explosion of manzanita species found nowhere else". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ "Morris Fire". InciWeb (United States Forest Service). 2 September 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ Template:Title=Morris Fire was arson, official says
- ^ "New fire breaks out near Angeles Crest Highway; forces road closure". Pasadena Star-News. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ a b "Station Fire". InciWeb (United States Forest Service). 2 September 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ a b "Station Fire Evening Update Sept. 2, 2009". InciWeb (United States Forest Service). 2 September 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ "Firefighters Killed in 'Station Fire' Remembered". KTLA-TV (Channel 5). 1 September 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ "Station Fire Evening Update Aug. 31, 2009". InciWeb (United States Forest Service). 31 August 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
- ^ Knoll, Corinna (31 August 2009). "TV, cellphone signals from Mt. Wilson at risk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Bloomekatz, Ari B. (2 September 2009). "Station fire pushes farther east to above Sierra Madre; cost of battle pegged at $21 million". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 September 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)