InciWeb the Incident Information System: Station Fire

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The fire crossed the west fork of the San Gabriel River and is burning toward the existing containment line.

Road closures have changed, please see below. The Air Branch has advised that Chilao has been too smokey to get much work done from the air today. Winds are lighter then expected and the air tankers are now laying in retardant on the contingency line along the Rincon truck trail. The fire is warming up as expected entering the peak burn period. Helicopters and Air Tankers are making drops on various parts of the fire. There will not be any helitorch operations today. Ground crews may still commence the planned burn out east of Mt Wilson if conditions allow in the evening. Firefighters have completed a line in front of the head of yesterdays slopover at Sulfer Springs and hope to have it lined by morning.

The Station Fire remained very active on the southeastern flank in the San Gabriel Wilderness last night. Fire crews saved 23 recreational cabins near Three Points, east of Chilao early this morning. Fire crews successfully contained a 5-acre spot fire north of Sulpher Springs Campground.

If you have Google Earth, you can access today's Station Fire perimeter at CA-ANF-E5VL Station 9-5-2009 0625.kml For a live view of the fire from Mt. Wilson, Mt. Wilson Camera

Steep and rugged terrain combined with continued warm seasonal temperatures to challenge firefighters on the eastern perimeter of the fire yesterday. Even as crews mopped up and reinforced existing line, they dealt with spotting northeast of Chilao, and significant runs north of Cogswell Dam.

Crews planned on strengthening line and reducing fuel in the Chilao area today. Those plans changed when fire spotted over a dozer line east of Alder Saddle and west of Winston Ridge. As of 5:00 p.m. yesterday the fire remained west of the pushing east from the saddle. The most active fire for the day burned in this area, generating smoke columns for many miles in all directions. As part of a predetermined contingency plan, the incident command opted to dispatch fire and law resources to the community of Juniper Hills. No evacuation were ordered, but it is requested that all residents,especially animal owners, prepare themselves for any possibility in the future.

The area north of Cogswell Dam also generated significant fire during the afternoon hours. Heated southern and western aspects created intensified fire behavior, with significant upslope runs through heavy fuels. Hotshot crews, inserted with the intent to directly attack the fire, pulled back to safety with the increase in activity.

The northern, western and Foothill fire lines southeast to Altadena continued to hold without incident. The total estimate of line built to date is 55 miles, with approximately 45 miles left to construct. The completion of a section of line in the Pacoima Canyon is expected by tomorrow. Firefighters maintained good containment around Mt. Wilson area.

The tactical priority of the incident for the night shift was to control and mop up the slopover in the Chilao area.

Little change in the overall weather is expected today as a trough of low pressure remains off the coast. Temperatures in the lower elevations 84 - 94 and temperature n the mountains 74 - 83 degrees. Current weather

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.The Station Fire is now the 10th largest fire in California since 1932.

The Angeles National Forest call center is being staffed 24 hrs a day. For additional information, please call 626-821-6700.

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 a of a mile north of the Wildlife Way Station

Road Closures:

*Aliso Canyon Rd at Angeles Forest Hwy

*Big Tujunga Rd at Angeles Forest Hwy

Big Rock Creek Rd closed at Big Pines Rd

Highway 39 between San Gabriel Canyon Road and East Fork Rd

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)

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.

Flight Restrictions: Temporary flight restrictions are in place over the Station Fire.

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