Fire crews can’t say if some landmark sites have survived Bobcat fire; here’s what they know so far

As the Bobcat fire burned for its 11th day — consuming more than 44,000 acres across the Angeles National Fore

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As the Bobcat fire burned for its 11th day — consuming more than 44,000 acres across the Angeles National Forest while dozens of other fires raged across the western swath of the country — fire crews were stretched too thin to be able assess potential damage to beloved landmark sites in the Monrovia foothills and the Angeles National Forest.

Related: Map of the where the Bobcat fire is burning

Here’s what they know for sure, as of Wednesday, Sept. 16:

MOUNT WILSON OBSERVATORY

It was another long night for fire crews stationed atop Mt. Wilson, where they have so far successfully defended the priceless, historic telescopes atop the mountain, officials said.

Crews were still buffeted by flames on Wednesday on at least two sides when reporters were taken up to the summit, but firefighters kept the blaze at bay.

They continued to cut containment lines and planned to do more controlled burns to get rid of fuel before the fire got any closer to the peak.

Visibility was poor on Wednesday afternoon, but officials on the scene hoped the smoke would clear somewhat to bring in more air support when needed.

“It’s going to be tough, but it would be ideal,” Los Angeles County Battallion Chief Stan Brewer said in an interview Wednesday, standing on top of a lookout point on Mount Wilson.

TRASK SCOUT RESERVATION

The Trask Scout Reservation was saved by fire crews who have worked tirelessly for days now, Monrovia firefighter Jeremy Phipps said in an interview Wednesday.

Crews were stationed before the fire descended on the vacant Boy Scout camp days ago, he said.

“Luckily, the way the fire was burning, it wasn’t a wind-driven fire, it was terrain-driven,” which meant it moved much slower, Phipps said.

Crews were able to coat the ground immediately surrounding the camp in fire retardant, keeping the fire at bay with water lines.

Firefighters were still stationed there on Wednesday, though the major danger had passed.

CANYON PARK NATURE CENTER

Monrovia’s Canyon Park Nature Center was saved in a similar fashion, Phipps said. The fire got close, but crews were able to keep the flames at bay.

“We were really lucky we didn’t have the winds,” Phipps said.

The Canyon Park trail — a major hiking destination with a trailhead next to the Nature Center — has likely been damaged, Phipps said, but the city’s Parks Department will still need to go in there to do damage assessment.

“We were able to keep it away from the cabin” near the hike, Phipps said, “but the trail system above it did get quite a lot of fire.”

Right now, only fire crews are allowed back there, Phipps said. The narrow, winding roads are simply too dangerous and fire crews can’t risk having nonessential personnel getting stuck out there.

As the fire chewed through decades of growth, whether it’s small bushes or large trees, it’s dislodging rocks that have been crashing down the mountain and blocking the road. Trees have fallen and blocked roads,  too, Phipps said.

CHANTRY FLATS

It’s the same story from Los Angeles County firefighter Richard Hilstein, who manages the permitting and inspections for the Chantry Flats cabins tucked deeper in the Angeles National Forest.

Hilstein said he’s been fielding calls from cabin owners, all asking about their properties. He can’t say what state they’re in, though he doesn’t believe they’ve burned down.

“I’ve been inquiring, but I don’t have any information,” Hilstein said in an interview on Wednesday. “It’s unsafe for anybody to go in there just yet. … Fire personnel are in there, but they’re not the ones doing triage or structure assessment. That will be coming up shortly,” after the fire is contained and crews have more manpower to devote to damage assessment.

STURTEVANT CAMP

It’s the same story for the Sturtevant Camp, near the Chantry Flats cabins, Los Angeles County firefighter David Dantic said on Wednesday.

It’s simply too dangerous for anyone except fire crews to go in there Those fire crews aren’t doing damage assessment; they’re just trying to save as many structures as much as they can.

Right now, firefighters have very little containment on the expanding Bobcat fire, and they’re severely strapped for resources.

Once the situation improves, Dantic said, it will be more feasible to get boots on the ground to assess any possible damage to these landmark sites.



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