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 ...
I hope so, too! My family lived on Catalina during the early '60s and many of my childhood memories have that beautiful building in them.
Looks like the firefighters are doing great work containing the fire, though. Here's hoping their success continues!
Avalon Mayor Bob Kennedy said there were more deer than people on Avalon’s streets Thursday night, driven from their habitat by the raging fire. Displaced, they wandered through town. There are large numbers of deer on the island, Kennedy said.
Avalon resident Bradley Wilson stands at the remains of his home Friday morning, May 11, 2007. Bradley, his wife and two children evacuated their Quail Canyon Road home Thursday afternoon as the fast moving fire threatened the city of Avalon.
Avalon resident Maia Villagra, 9, wakes up after a scary night on Catalina Island, Friday morning, May 11, 2007. Villagra evacuated with her family Thursday afternoon as the fast moving fire threatened the city of Avalon.
California Department of Forestry fire truck is unloaded from a Navy hovercraft at Pebbly Beach heliport near Avalon, Calif., Friday, May 11, 2007, on Catalina Island. Dozens of fire engines from as far away as Fresno arrived through the night aboard giant military hovercraft from the Marine Corps' Camp Pendleton. The high-speed hovercraft can carry 60 tons over land or water and are often used by the military on humanitarian missions.
Captain Andrew Olvera of Los Angeles County fire department shows the 4,000 acres that has burned already, inside the red outline, on a map (not to scale) in the fire station in Avalon, Calif., early Friday, May 11, 2007, on Catalina Island as a wildfire continues to burn on the island
Notice there are no local officials blaming the Federal Government for not responding....the Federal Govt was always including in planning for this event.
I’m so sorry for the people who lost their homes. I hope the fire is now under control.
Wow! That would be a sight!
Friday, May 11: A Los Angeles City firefighting helicopter takes off after refueling and picking up water Friday at Pebbly Beach Heliport near Avalon on Catalina Island.
Flames flare behind California Department of Corrections crewmembers working along Airport Road on Catalina Island.
Backbone of the Firefight / LA County Inmates
Impressive pictures, Karl.....thank you!!!
thanks for the updates.
Onyx, have you seen these photos?
I've lived in the South Bay (Torrance, Beach cities area) for 30 years. Catalina is the reason I will never leave Southern California. I go out several times a year. Am planning to go out Memorial Day weekend.
No, I hadn’t seen photos of the fire and only limited tv coverage. I know we both love Catalina Island. Thank you for the ping, Wolfstar and thank you, Karl for the photos.
Cool and foggy tonight, I hope it helps the firefighters.
Know a fellow who has a BS in Forestry and another in Forest Management. He used to say that “...Smokey the Bear burned an awful lot of forrests.”
Hi. Do you know, is the fire out?
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