[pct-l] Station Fire Update

[tom aterno]

Control line has now been completed on the west side of the fire in the
Pacoima Canyon area. The new line completes previously constructed line from
the north and south. The entire western end of the fire is now lined.

Successful burn operations were completed along control lines in the Bear
Mountain area, south to Chilao. This burn operation has significantly
reduced the wildfire threat in this area.

Control line has now been completed from Mt Wilson to and along the Rincon
Truck Trail. If necessary, this line will be used to stop the fire spread
into the communities of Monrovia, Sierra Madre and Duarte. At this time the
fire intensity in this area is very low and the fire is spreading very
slowly.

The San Gabriel Wilderness is the only area where the fire was actively
burning.

It has been determined that the cause of the Station Fire is arson and is
now a homicide investigation If you have any information or questions please
contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at 323-573-2387.

The Station Fire, named because of its proximity to a nearby USFS Ranger
Station has burned over 242 square miles of land within the Angeles National
Forest and near surrounding foothill communities of La Canada Flintridge, La
Crescenta, Acton, Soledad Canyon, Pasadena, Glendale and Sierra Madre. The
goal of the Incident Management Team is to keep the fire west of Highway 39
and Angeles Crest Highway, east of Interstate 5, south of Highway 14,
Pearblossom Highway, and Highway 138, and north of the foothill communities
and the Angeles National Forest Boundary. The fire is moving into areas of
the forest with no recorded fire history.

If you have Google Maps, you can access the Station Fire perimeter at
CA-ANF-E5VL
Station 9-3-2009
2112.kml<http://rmgsc. cr.usgs.gov/ outgoing/ geomac/2009_ fire_data/ kmls/CA-ANF- E5VL%20Station% 209-3-2009% 202112.kml>

*Community Meeting*
Community meeting scheduled for tomorrow in Tujunga has been canceled.

*Closures:*

* *

*Glendale**: * Dukmejian Wilderness Park

*Angeles** National Forest:* An area closure of the southern portion of the
Angeles National Forest is in effect until it is determined that it is safe
to reopen forest areas. For additional information on the closure, go to
www.fs.fed.us/ r5/angeles/ .

*Open to Residents Only:*

* *

- Little Tujunga Canyon Rd and Live Oak Campground
- Aliso Canyon Rd at Y8
- Aliso Canyon Rd at Angeles Forest Hwy
- Little Tujunga Canyon Rd at � mile north of the Wildlife Way Station

* *

*Road Closures:*

* *

Big Tujunga Rd 1 mile north of Mt Gleason Rd at the City/County line

Soledad Canyon Rd at Indian Canyon Trail Head

Angeles Crest Hwy between Big Pines Hwy and mile marker 26.7 north of
Altadena

Big Pines Hwy at SR-2

Cheney Trail at Angeles National Forest gate (Loma Alta)

The following services are provided at no cost:

*Evacuation Shelters:* Located at Golden Valley High School and Verdugo High
School.

*Pet Evacuation Centers:* Located at Pasadena Humane Society, Baldwin Park
Animal Shelter, LA County Agoura Hills Animal Shelter.

* *

*Large Animal Evacuation Center:*

Antelope Valley Fairgrounds is boarding large animals. Pierce College can
only board horses, donkeys and mules.

Basic InformationIncident TypeWildfireCauseAr sonDate of OriginWednesday
August 26th, 2009 approx 03:30 PMLocationLos Angeles River Ranger District /
Angeles National ForestIncident CommanderDietrich / Bryan / FenderCurrent
SituationTotal Personnel 5,244 Size 154,655 acresPercent Contained 42% Estimated
Containment DateTuesday September 15th, 2009 approx 06:00 PMFuels Involved

Very heavy fuels of ceanothus, chamise, scrub oak and manzanita across the
entire fire area, 15 to 20 feet in height with Big Cone Douglas Fir in the
drainage bottoms. Fuels have not experienced any significant large fire
activity in the past 40 years.
Fire Behavior

Active fire behavior put up a large convection column this afternoon.
Significant Events

There are currently no mandatory evacuations in effect.
OutlookPlanned Actions

Crews will prepare, and protect structures when and where necessary.
Additional crews will construct handlines, improve existing lines, burnout
as needed, build dozer lines and protect critical communication sites.
Firefighters will continue firing and burn operations to help contain the
fire.
Growth Potential
High
Terrain Difficulty
Extreme

Remarks
The Station Fire is under unified command with CIIMT5, Los Angeles County
Fire and the Los Angeles County Sheriff. Angeles Crest Highway remains
closed and is primary access route for camps , numerous private residences,
and the Mount Wilson Communication Facility and Observatory. Multiple
evacuation centers have been established. The Mount Wilson Communications is
directly threatened. This facility is a major communications hub for all of
Southern California.

Source: http://www.inciweb. org/incident/ 1856/