Comments on: Station Fire Update 9-6

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:26:20 +0000

In reply to Badtux.

Originally two firefighter had to be medi-evaced, but one was only in overnight. The other apparently took a major dose of fumes. The report wasn’t clear, but it made sound like they came across chemical drums, as they called it a toxic dump site. Of course, they may have been in a shed originally, and the shed disintegrated over the years.

I understand the desire to reduce roads in the wilderness, but there are times, like fires and rescues, when they are really handy to have. We really get that feeling when they get wiped out by hurricanes, because some of the clay roads in the North County just disappear. Someone really needs to do a good GPS survey of the county, because we lost a couple of tiny towns for a couple of weeks after Ivan. With the trees over and the road signs down, EMS wasn’t sure where they were, so the power crews would know where to start running wire and putting in poles. They got water and MRE drops from a helicopter, but a road would have been nice.

I remember your trip up to that town.

Unspoiled wilderness is great, but people won’t pay for it. If they can’t use it, they won’t support it, and that is a reality that the environmental community needs to deal with.

I hate jetskiis. I think they are annoying and dangerous. We have more people injured and killed in jetski accidents than any other form of boat, but … this is a tourist area, and tourists like them and expect them. Without the taxes and fees they generate, there would be a lot less money available for the preservation programs for the turtles and dolphins. I hate compromises, but you have to find a balance if you want people to pay, and tourism is an important justification and funding for a lot of good programs.

By: Badtux

Badtux — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:40:17 +0000

Note that cyanide is used in gold mining, and there was a lot of gold mining in that “wilderness” area before it was declared to be “wilderness” (that’s done a lot here in California, even some active mines have been arbitrarily declared to be “wilderness” and forced to close even though it’s clear to anybody with a lick of sense that a mine where there’s active mining going on is about as much “wilderness” as downtown Los Angeles). Needless to say, miners who just had their mine declared to be “wilderness” aren’t in any hurry to clean up their millsite, after all, it’s “wilderness” so clearly there’s nothing to clean up there, right? So the cyanide may have been there for fifty years or more after the declaration of “wilderness” rendered it non-existent, just mouldering in an abandoned mine dump, until the fire hit it and started vaporizing it and injured a firefighter who inhaled its fumes.

Reminds me of a canyon where there was a road to its head for over 100 years, and even a town up there for some time. Now there’s one of those environmental groups that proudly proclaims that their lawsuit is protecting this canyon as prestine untouched wilderness. 100 years there was a road there, but it’s prestine untouched wilderness? SIIIIIGH! Some “environmentalists” make it hard for me to say I’m an environmentalist…

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:42:04 +0000

In reply to cookie jill. The wildlife is being pushed out of the wilderness, and among the many fire reports there have been cautions about the animal life appearing in neighborhoods looking for food, but primarily water. Recovery is a long process. The years of active fire suppression on top of the climate change are making for very dangerous times.

By: cookie jill

cookie jill — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:02:05 +0000

La Crescenta is known for “harvesting” rocks and boulders. Many of the houses there were originally “vacation” cabins/homes and were constructed out whatever was found up there. Wood. Rocks. I can see the boulders come tumbling down quite easily…they don’t usually need any water to encourage it, either.

Curious as to how the wildlife is doing…if there is an uptick of puma, coyote, bear, etc. being seen in the populated areas, as there is a whole bunch of them living up there. Nothing like seeing big ol’ panther paw prints outside the door to really wake you up.
.-= last blog ..Bless those socialist =-.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:50:43 +0000

Sounds like a plan to me although I think they have established some pretty solid lines in that area. My concern would be flooding when the rains come, because there are a lot of hillsides with nothing left to slow the flow or hold any water.

By: cookie jill

cookie jill — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:47:36 +0000

A fire broke out at Lake Casitas this afternoon and we are getting the strong smell of smoke up here in Santa Bar-B-Que. The heat actually picked and the wind started later in the afternoon and everyone was a little antsy. At least it looks like my storage units down in La Crescenta and Tujunga have survived. Time to donate most of it and take the good stuff back up here to home...where the storage unit is right across the street from a Fire Station. .-= last blog ..Bless those socialist =-.