Posted on 05/10/2007 3:39:11 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
Wildfire Erupts On Catalina Island
AVALON, Calif. Wind is driving a wildfire across 40 acres of brush on Santa Catalina Island.
L.A. County Fire Captain Mike Brown says no structures have been immediately threatened and there are no evacuations.
The fire was first reported at 12:30 p.m. five miles east of the airport on the island, which lies more than 20 miles offshore. Sixty firefighters are en route.
Brown says resources are getting there by boat and helicopter, and the Coast Guard may get involved.
Much of the island is wilderness. Its major community is the city of Avalon.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbs2.com ...
Beautiful place.. but really, not many people live there and this is natural...
Video at this link: http://cbs2.com/homepage
Most of the island is a nature conservancy that is exceedingly precious. It was established in perpetuity by the Wrigley family. There is no place for the animals to go if a wildfire were to sweep the island. Also, Catalina is one of California’s top tourist destinations. So the usual right-wing shrug whenever something “only” affects unpopulated areas is quite thboughtless in this case. I absolutely love Catalina.
Thanks for the news, Karl. I wouldn’t have otherwise learned about this until I got home from work.
CalFire responding Strike Teams from San Diego to Camp Pendleton, where they will transported to Catalina by hovercraft (per the plan)
4 air tankers ordered, and LA City and LA County helos responding to Catalina Island.
Those hills on the island are treacherous. The reservoir was dry the last time I was there in March...water in the middle of the island will be a problem and the airport is a little tricky to fly in and out.
LA County Fire used to have Station 55 at Avalon, it was a one man station (Captain who lived there) and volunteers, I suppose it’s still the same but don’t know that for a fact.
I overheard there were rigs and they were flying in staff to man them....and some camp crews from Pedley were flying in....not sure if they are parachuted or not?
They are trying to protect a Boy Scout facility
Yes, they used to barge rigs and crews over to major fires. Doubt seriously they’ll parachute crews in, they’ll chopper them in. LA City and County fly chopper crews all the time but as far as I know only state or feds have parajumpers.
I know nothing about Catalina Island, but I know fires have been happening since Adam and Eve were evicted.
It just happens.
Animals that may die, have died before and somehow have been able to replenish themselves.
God has said,
"Be still, and know that I am God."
Let's watch HIM work. We might learn something.
They are evacuating people....not sure who....all the Baywatch boats and a lot of USCG assets are rushing to the island...
also the LZ is overloaded with so many aircraft working....
Pete Woolson, Avalon’s assistant city manager, said there was a precautionary evacuation on the west side of town only, including the hospital, school and warehouse area. “What I’m hearing from the chatter on the radio, they’re getting an upper hand on it now,” Woolson said. “I’m observing the fire bombers, they’re working and it sounds like they’re making progress. I’m pretty hopeful.”
26 miles across the sea....Santa Catalina is a waitin’ for me.
Well I hope they get it stopped. A beautiful pristine place was there years and years ago. My great aunt and uncle had a place in Avalon when they retired in Ontario.
what a beautiful place. Hate to see this
Edison reporting island about to lose water pressure.....due to the power lines burning and generators failing.
Also, they are out of helicopter fuel, etc.
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