Catalina Island fire....

[AdMaven]

I have never visited Catalina and have lived in SoCal most of my life, but it looks so beautiful. I hope they get the fire out soon!

 

FitzLA, I lived in Studio City many years and worked in West LA (Sunset Blvd) many years and when I saw the Griffith Park fire and they were worried about the Greek I was so relieved to see it didn't burn. I love GP and the Greek Theatre was always a favorite for concerts.

 

I'm in the high desert now, east of Apple Valley and we had some very scary fires a few years ago and had friends evacuate their horses and animals to our ranch. We had over 20 horses, a trailer full of goats and even a friend's donkey spend a week here until it was safe to go home.

[sharpie13]

Fire is nature's process of renewal. Giive the island a couple of months, it will be gorgeous with new growth. :)

[FitzLA]

I have never visited Catalina and have lived in SoCal most of my life, but it looks so beautiful. I hope they get the fire out soon!

 

FitzLA, I lived in Studio City many years and worked in West LA (Sunset Blvd) many years and when I saw the Griffith Park fire and they were worried about the Greek I was so relieved to see it didn't burn. I love GP and the Greek Theatre was always a favorite for concerts.

 

I'm in the high desert now, east of Apple Valley and we had some very scary fires a few years ago and had friends evacuate their horses and animals to our ranch. We had over 20 horses, a trailer full of goats and even a friend's donkey spend a week here until it was safe to go home.

 

I remember that fire. My partner and I have a weekend home up in Big Bear, and I think we all remember that fire well. How about the one a few years ago that burned from Arrowhead to Running Springs? That one was scary too. I am terrified of the fire season up there this year.

 

p.s. My grandparents lived in Apple Valley, so I know if well.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Fitz, do you have an update for us? Is it still burning?

 

Thanks for the information and the links!

 

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[lawsoncd3]

Thanks to all who posted links to the fire. I am on the Monarch Monday with Catalina on Wed. So many memories of my now almost 20 year old going there in the summer with his nana and papa from age 4 to 10. I still have those pics and looking at them tonight, I hope the people/wildlife/property, etc. will be ok.

 

Dona :)

[AdMaven]

Just read on a Wildfire forum incident report that structures and propane tank at the golf course have now become involved.

[FitzLA]

Yes, it is still burning and homes are in danger. I am heading off to dinner, but I will try to get an update for you on the news when I get home.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Yes, it is still burning and homes are in danger. I am heading off to dinner, but I will try to get an update for you on the news when I get home.

 

Thanks for keeping us updated!! Enjoy your dinner :-)

 

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[MissKise]

I have never visited Catalina and have lived in SoCal most of my life, but it looks so beautiful. I hope they get the fire out soon!

 

FitzLA, I lived in Studio City many years and worked in West LA (Sunset Blvd) many years and when I saw the Griffith Park fire and they were worried about the Greek I was so relieved to see it didn't burn. I love GP and the Greek Theatre was always a favorite for concerts.

 

I'm in the high desert now, east of Apple Valley and we had some very scary fires a few years ago and had friends evacuate their horses and animals to our ranch. We had over 20 horses, a trailer full of goats and even a friend's donkey spend a week here until it was safe to go home.

 

 

I also remember those fires...I worked in the evacuation centers and the neighborhoods that were burned out...

 

Glad you could be there for those who needed animals placed.

 

Its so sad to watch the LA fires and the Catalina fires.....I hope they can save all of Avalon with no damage to any structures.

[cruzegirl]

Fire is nature's process of renewal. Giive the island a couple of months, it will be gorgeous with new growth. :)

 

I'm sorry but that's incredibly RUDE statement....Try telling that to those evacuating and hoping their homes don't burn down!!!!! And as someone who's home burned down as a kid, it's more than just vegetation that's at risk.... How insensitive.....

FitzLA,

I hope they get it out soon.... I also live in Los Angeles, well north of L.A. But I've seen the flames from Griffith Park. Glad to hear the Observatory, the Zoo and the Greek Theatre are safe. But have you heard on the Equestrian Center?? Couldn't find any info. And I recall many of the recent fires all too well.... I remember sitting in Somis waiting to see if we would evacuate our horses there in either 2003 or 2004.... Can't remember the year now but it was very scary.....

[Cruisin' Chick]

On Tuesday I noticed the smoke in the sky and immediately turned on one of the newsradio stations to see where it was. There was a fire in March because two teens visiting from another state decided to play with fireworks (which meant they bought them some place else as you can't buy them in LA and you're not even allowed to possess them, for good reason, obviously). And now another fire in the Hollywood Hills because someone decided to smoke in 10 per cent humidity and 90-plus degree weather. So residents in Los Feliz had to evacuate. Workers at the Gene Autry museum had to close its doors, hoping they won't return to find the artifacts inside reduced to ashes. Zoo employees had to leave, praying that the animals survive. People who enjoy hiking in G.P. now have to find someplace else to enjoy nature for a long while.

 

I know it's miles from where I live. I was in the position of seeing flames in the mountains just a few miles from where I live in October 2003 and packing up the car just in case (the police were standing by just a mile up the street waiting for the order to evacuate the neighborhood). So I can just imagine how terrible it is for those in Los Feliz and Avalon right now.

[FitzLA]

I'm sorry but that's incredibly RUDE statement....Try telling that to those evacuating and hoping their homes don't burn down!!!!! And as someone who's home burned down as a kid, it's more than just vegetation that's at risk.... How insensitive.....

FitzLA,

I hope they get it out soon.... I also live in Los Angeles, well north of L.A. But I've seen the flames from Griffith Park. Glad to hear the Observatory, the Zoo and the Greek Theatre are safe. But have you heard on the Equestrian Center?? Couldn't find any info. And I recall many of the recent fires all too well.... I remember sitting in Somis waiting to see if we would evacuate our horses there in either 2003 or 2004.... Can't remember the year now but it was very scary.....

 

Yes, the Equestrian center was saved as well. The only thing that burned was Dantes which is a garden center off of one of the trials. It was sort of historic as well. That along with over 800 acres or hundreds of years of growth.

 

Thank you for your comment to the other poster. I was thinking the same thing. We all know that fires are part of nature, but when it destroys trees that are hundreds of years old, or in some cases, over a thousand years old, or homes that people have worked so hard for, or their posessions that can never be replaced, or even lives, we tend not to take it so lightly. Part of Southern Califronia living is to deal with disasters such as fires and earthquakes. But it still becomes very hard to deal with. Even when it is a forest fire with no homes in danger. It will takes YEARS for Griffith Park to restore itself. It will not even happen in my lifetime, but for future generations, it will be back. It was more that just a brush fire burning brush that will re-generate itself in a few months. It will takes years and years. So, thank you for responding to that incencitive post. Have a great night.

[maren91]

Although I have lived in Los Angeles my entire life (grew up in Northridge) I just went to Catalina for the first time on the Monarch last August. I'm watching the breaking news on the TV and it's not looking good for Avalon. Someone made a comment that they shouldn't have taken away the goats that fed on the overgrown vegetation. They are preparing plans for evacuating the island and flying in firefighters from the mainland. As a firefighter myself this is going to be a logistical nightmare, although I'm sure there are plans in place for this. All the sights they are talking about on the news I rode through or by on a golf cart my DH and I rented. Here is a link to our local news station for the latest:

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/13296545/detail.html?dl=mainclick

 

My thoughts and prayers are with the residents and guests of Catalina right now.

[FitzLA]

If you look at this webcam, posted earlier by admaven, you can see the flames aproaching the town of Avalon. They are VERY close.

 

http://www.watchthewater.org/beach_images.cfm?bid=61&p=46

[FitzLA]

The entire island is being evacuated, and homes are now burning as we speak. The fire has entered the city of Avalon now. And 30 or more homes are threatened as well. It is totally out of control and no containment at all yet. Very scary situation.

[cruiserbryce]

Catalina is a gorgeous place...we're itching to get there in October. Hopefully everyone and everything come out of this as best as possible

[FitzLA]

According to the news, a few small businesses have gone up in flames now too. But I think we will have to wait till morning to get a full report. The news is often wrong. We can only hope that they are now as well.

[JLC@SD]

[quote name='AdMaven'][URL]http://www.watchthewater.org/beach_images.cfm?bid=61&p=46[/URL]

Web cam pictures of Catalina fire.[/quote]

thanks for the link......they have spectacular photos.

[FitzLA]

A scary photo of Catalina and Avalon just before sundown.

[Kath-B]

[URL]http://www.visitcatalinaisland.com/avalon/webcam.php[/URL]

This link is a live web cam from the Pavillion Lodge hotel that we always stay at in Avalon. It shows the beach, Crescent Blvd, The casino etc. ...Looks very quiet right now (after midnight Calif. time). It's dark and no one is in view and thank God no fire is visible from any angles on the web cam. We've heard on our late news here that everyone was supposed to vacate Avalon. We're crossing our fingers. The big tanker (DC-10's) that we have here in Calif. later on in the fire season are not here yet and will not be available to make those big water drops. It's very scary! We love Catalina and growing up in LA and now in San Diego make it one of our favorite little get aways. It's like our own little Riviera. It's so cute! We hope Flips Restaurant and his crew make it through okay! The best sushi anywhere that we've ever had! Last summer we were tooling around on our golf cart (the only way to get around since so few of the residents are allowed to have "real" cars) and we saw tons of hillside homes tucked away on small winding streets that would be difficult to defend. On the news tonite, it looks like the fire could be reaching those homes. We're hoping for the best! Prayers for the residents of Avalon and all of Catalina!
- Kathleen in San Diego

[isujim]

[quote name='FitzLA']The entire island is being evacuated, and homes are now burning as we speak. The fire has entered the city of Avalon now. And 30 or more homes are threatened as well. It is totally out of control and no containment at all yet. Very scary situation.[/quote]

So sorry to hear that........please post when you get up this morning and give us the latest

[kruz]

here's the other side of the country...
[IMG]http://boards.cruisecritic.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=44636&stc=1&d=1178886128[/IMG]

[cyclenut]

[quote name='kruz']here's the other side of the country...
[IMG]http://boards.cruisecritic.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=44636&stc=1&d=1178886128[/IMG][/quote]

Florida has MANY fires raging right now and so does Georgia. The main difference is that those fires are not threatening human lives, homes, businesses, etc. I think the total involved area between Florida and Georgia is several hundred square miles.

While wildfires are devasting, there is also a natural (almost cleansing) element to them. I know that upsets many people, as well it should. My comment is meant to be reassuring. However, that notion that a fire is somehow cleansing when it involves a heavily populated area and starts to take out homes and businesses falls flat. Very flat. Nature rebuilds better than man.

Having said that I can also say that I had an opportunity to hike through a fire devasated area a few years after fire had come through. While there was plenty of new growth, there was virtually no tree cover and MANY black trees. This renewal process takes MANY years and the burned area will never really be the same.

Most probably don't realize that Catalina Island is mostly mountain terrain. There is very little flat ground, making it very difficult to battle the flames.

As of this morning the temperatures had dropped and the humidity increased causing the fire to lay down a bit. Video I saw this morning showed several structures burning last night. Resources were brought in on military hovercraft last night (additional trucks, etc.). The Catalina Express is shuttling firefighters and equipment to the island while at the same time taking people off. They can reach the island in about an hour.

[bruinbear]

I Live in Orange County, We have a fire almost every week now. It is going to be a very scary fire season for everyone in those states that have got no rain this year. I dont think we even got 2 inches. Had to save my brothers house and his animals a couple of months ago he lives in the hills of Orange County. That was set intentionally as are most fires in California. I pray for Catalina Island it is beautiful there. I hiked across the Island a few years ago. The wild life, there is alot they had Buffalo there, many other animals. Also alot of stranded animals from the Griffith Park fire to.
Prayers go out to the residents and the firefighters fighting this fire.

[goodml]

[quote name='FitzLA']A scary photo of Catalina and Avalon just before sundown.[/QUOTE]

That photo is so ominous. It's all very sad and I can't imagine what it's like to evacuate the island and leave your home and/or business behind. Sending thoughts and prayers that it will be possible to contain the fire soon before too much more is lost.