Station Fire Spreading Above Altadena, California

Altadena, Calif. -- Writing about the fire burning above my home in Altadena in the Angeles National Forest is like running by a fast moving train and trying to jump on. The developments are continuously happening and it's tough to remember the conditions from just a few hours earlier.

The fire is spreading over 55 square miles in the Angeles National Forest -- from the side closest to LA and then north and east to the town of Acton off Highway 14.

La Canada, the area where the fire started, is about 12 miles north of Los Angeles.

Altadena and Pasadena, where I live, is about 15 miles north and slightly east of downtown Los Angeles.

Wednesday night - the "station fire" started near a ranger station on the Angeles Crest Highway north of La Canada. It quickly spread to more than 250 acres and was burning more than 2,000 acres by overnight.

Thursday - smoke appeared above the ridges and by nightfall fire was evident on the slopes to the west of Altadena.

We drove to the Levitt Pavilion for a concert and flames were evident back in the hills.

Friday morning - smoky smells from brush fires are strongest in the morning. I could feel it in the eyes and mouth. Smoke was billowing in to the air and evident from around the LA basin.

Saturday morning - the smoky oppressiveness was strong once again. We drove south to the city of Carson for an event and then on our return home, columns of smoke were rising what must have been several thousand feet into the air.

A neighbor said the fire was spreading west.

Sunday - the smoke covering Altadena and Pasadena was like a hot heavy blanket of fog. By 7am, I walked down our street and visibility was poor beyond 100 yards. By the afternoon, the smoke fog lifted but flames became visible from my house.

In our adult class at church of 70 families, there were several who had to evacuate.
One of our members is in media relations with the Forest Service while another is a fireman with LA City. They were prepared to share patrols with the crews responsible for the forest.

The winds were mercifully calm but by early afternoon, the winds at our house were beginning to blow slightly. Higher winds increases the rapid spread of the flames.

I watched the smoke turn from white into black as flames discovered new brush to consume. From my backyard, new sets of flames were visible on the ridges which I estimated to be more than 7 miles away.

The burning black smoke has once again turned into a noxious white cloud spreading over the ridges.

The Forest Service is estimating containment on September 8.

For up-to-date information, visit:

www.inciweb.org

The Mount Wilson news site

@AngelesNF on Twitter

Click here to read my related story on the Morris Fire that burned in Azusa starting Tuesday August 25.