CA: Missed opportunities let Station fire become a disaster

Los Angeles Times ^ | October 31, 2009 | 3:13 p.m. | Paul Pringle

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

By the time heli-tankers arrived in force, the blaze had leaped Angeles Crest Highway. The last best chance to prevent a catastrophe had vanished.

On a sizzling August morning, as flames burned unchecked down the road, fire crews milled about at an Angeles Crest Highway ranger station. Others were parked along the pavement -- a critical line of defense -- their engines quiet and hoses slack.

It was more than an hour after first light, and some six hours after U.S. Forest Service commanders had determined that the fire required a more aggressive air attack. But the skies remained empty of water-dropping helicopters -- tankers that were readily available.

Then, after the sun had heated the hillsides above La Cañada Flintridge, and as the first chopper finally began unloading on the flames, the fire gathered speed and shot over the highway, turning tall pines into torches. The last best chance to stop the blaze without significant losses vanished.

"That's what turned into the Station fire," said one firefighter who saw the flames jump the road about 8 a.m. on Aug. 27.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Blame assigning ping!

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Fireman, man your stations ping!

[Senormechanico]

They probably didn’t want to burn all that fuel, thus preventing a “carbon footprint”.

[Carry_Okie]

Fits the pattern.

[taxesareforever]

Thanks for the site. What an eyeopener to this third world state.

[ThomasThomas]

I know a fire who was at the fire. He is smart enough not to get his facts from the latimes site.

[Carry_Okie]

Thanks for the site. What an eyeopener to this third world state.

If you liked that, try this: A Burning Desire - Sierra Club Public Lands Fire Management Policy .

[taxesareforever]

Thanks. Sounds like people living in hill country of california need their own personal fire plan. Can’t count on the govmint.

[Carry_Okie]

Sounds like people living in hill country of california need their own personal fire plan.

If they are within the Coastal Zone, the fines for implementing a fuel control plan are $1,000 per day per instance. Those folks are totally screwed.

Although it has reached an advanced state in California, the phenomenon is nationwide.

[Avoiding_Sulla]

If a 5 mile coastal zone is deemed good, what’s keeping them from extending it to 10 or 25 miles?

[Avoiding_Sulla]

Oh, and just to be clear for readers, La Cañada Flintridge is at least 20 miles from the coast, so that the Coastal Zone restrictions are not was applied in the instance for the Station Fire.

What do you suppose or know was the excuse or alleged reason for all the fuel build up there?

[Carry_Okie]

If a 5 mile coastal zone is deemed good, what’s keeping them from extending it to 10 or 25 miles?

For now, the State Constitution.

[Carry_Okie]

What do you suppose or know was the excuse or alleged reason for all the fuel build up there?

My guess is that it's hot, steep, rocky, full of snakes and scorpions... it's tough country. The Indians probably burned it annually.

[Redcloak]

BUSH’S FAULT!!

[LA Conservative]

Air Pollution control is why the fuel built up. The State of California has people who study the potential impact on air quality from controlled burns before they will grant a burn permit. If the weather conditions will result in poor air quality, no permit is granted.