(Originally published at 1:09 p.m. PDT August 27, 2018)
The Holy Fire has been relatively quiet for the last 12 days, with the reported size of 22,986 acres remaining the same since August 15.
But that changed today when a spot fire ignited across the fireline and once again threatened the numerous electronic sites at Santiago Peak. Those facilities supply many of the television, radio, and communications links for the greater Los Angeles area, along with other sites in the area.
The fire originally started August 6 near Holy Jim Canyon in the Santa Ana Mountains southeast of Los Angeles.
The #HolyFire flareup has slopped outside of containment lines and has grown to 40 acres. 5 air tankers and 4 helicopters have been assigned. Ground resources will be utilized when it is safe to do so.
— Cleveland NF (@ClevelandNF) August 27, 2018
The fire was burning quiet well, as you can see in these photos, but by noon or 12:30 p.m. local time the intensity had decreased, due in part to drops by air tankers and helicopters.
These images were captured from live cameras on Santiago Peak, HPWREN and KWAVE.
(To see all of the articles on Wildfire Today about the Holy Fire, including the most recent, click HERE.)
Hopefully they’ll go direct and cut line around that slopover. Then mop it up and patrol. Anyway, that’s how we used to do it.
What else would you expect from those charged with protecting the residents in Orange County? Articles in Wild Fire Today over the years have already discussed how wildland fires are a stepchild of the the OCFA and it seems US Forest service.
After experiencing Windy Ridge, Santiago, Freeway Complex, Canyon 1 and Canyon 2 this bunch must be going for a record in acres burnt. Congratulations on reaching 23,000 acres with today’s flare up 3 weeks to the day it started. For many years the local fire firefighters seemed to be able to take care of small fires before they grew into monstrous infernos now my neighbors and I now live in terror at the sight of smoke.
Terrified Mom not looking forward to when the Santa Ana winds blow and the real fire danger starts.
Kathy, I can understand your fears. Wildland fires seem to be getting worse. I’ve experienced our wildfires since the 1960’s and please believe that the past has seen many, many fires to rival what is happening today. We live where wildland and community interface as never before. Yet we can take steps to protect our homes and families in advance of fires. I respectfully suggest that you contact OCFA, tell them how you feel, and ask them to send firefighters out to help you deal with this, and to plan in a way to hopefully ‘handle’ that feeling of terror. Their job goes way beyond just fighting fires.