Sierra Madre - Fire in SoCal

[sera]

A fire in the Angeles National Forest broke out today (10 miles NE of Pasadena, CA); it was reported at 1:40. I didn''t even know about it until about 3:00 when I went outside. It''s now burned 100 acres... they expected to have it contained in 24 hours.

It''s 11:35 pm here and it''s still glowing pretty brightly in that area and there''s a lot of smoke in the air.

Prayers and fairy dust would be appreciated for firefighters to be able to get it contained quickly (I don''t think any homes are in immediate danger). There were other fires here and there in SoCal today, but all except this one were contained quickly. It was really hot and dry here today.

 

[Selkie]

I hadn''t heard about that. It''s going to be a bad year for fires, I''m afraid. Relatively wet winter=lots of new vegetation to be burned when it gets dry. Add in the human factor with accidental and intentional triggers...

 

[UCLABelle]

I am concerned too for everyone, including the firefighters and locals who according to the news this morning are being evacuated (as someone who lives in Southern California, and a brother who lives about 20 miles from the fire and suffers from severe lung issues)....

 

[sera]

I think the evacuations were done way in advance because there is one way in and one way out of the area, so the evacuees were not in immenent danger at the time of evacuation. It''s now 350 acres burned and 5% contained- because of the limited access it makes it hard to fight. They expect it will burn another 2-3 days.

As for the air here, it actually seems less smokey than last night (at least in the valley). The smoke is very evident along the mountains. The temp here is very dry and 100+ degrees and there''s a slight breeze (last night got windy). Some of the areas, they say, haven''t burned in 40 years.

Unfortunately, it does look like it will be a bad year. There''s a lot of high growth that is now dead or dying because of the heat. I have seen many residents cutting back the brush from their properties, so that''s good. Hopefully, everyone will be safe and the precautions will help lessen any damage. It would also help if people would stop being careless with fires and cigg. butts, etc. (I see people tossing cigg. butts out their car windows all the time... not real bright with all the dead brush along some of the freeway areas.

)

 

[jar086]

I live in Pasadena area and little sister goes to school in Sierra Madre, where her best friend also lives. The fire is currently contained to the other side of the ridge and second round evacuations have beeen called off and allowed back into their homes, so it''s looking better now!