Catalina Island On Fire!!

B

Byrdman

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WOW... looks bad. Hope they can clear the island without loss of life. News on TV indicated evacuation of the island. Locals have any input??

Byrdman
 
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Damn!

Do we know of an alternate site for the Catalina Get Together this month? Maybe another of the Channel Islands?

Joe. :smileo
 
Impressive and sad pictures. Has the fire reached Toyon Bay? Used to work with the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI) and would hate to think that great facility is lost.
 
Here's a brief report as of Saturday morning (good news):

Calif. Island Survives Wildfire Scare
Friday, May 11, 2007 9:30 PM EDT
The Associated Press
By GILLIAN FLACCUS
AVALON, Calif. (AP) — Water-dumping planes and helicopters helped beat back soaring flames that threatened this quaint Catalina Island town Friday, giving firefighters a victory that allowed nearly 4,000 evacuated residents to start coming home.

Even though the six-square-mile blaze was only 35 percent contained, the wildfire and thick smoke were confined to the tinder-dry brush in the mountains of this narrow island more than 20 miles off Los Angeles.

Avalon's cobblestone streets, brightly painted bungalows, landmark casino and tourist hotels were mostly spared, with only one home and several outbuildings burned. No one was seriously injured.
 
Awesome photos Joe. And...with what has happened, that sounds like great news. Some aviators for sure had a hard but meaningful day!

Thanks for the update.

Byrdman
 
There have been peroidic brush fires on Catalina in the past. It is all part of the life cycle on this type of vegitated Island (even though it might have been sparked by a human). Fortunately you will not see any sign of that at the Isthmus by August. I worked at Camp Fox in the early 50's and we saw one fire near there at that time. Later I observed several fires near the Isthums.

Good to know it has been contained with minimal damage.
 
Our old digs, Catalina Island Marine Institute, was not touched. We worked geology on the island in the old days and spent a wonderful Christmas in Toyon Bay with the whole family in this delightful, relatively isolated part of the island. We also had a 'secret' anniversary celebration in Mark Twain's place in Avalon -- yes, fire is natural on the island, but always a concern when fire threatens man-made structures.
 
Our family history goes back a long way with Catalina and Avalon. My great grandfather was the first federal land grants attorney in S. Calif. He confirmed the Robbin's Spanish land grant of Catalina in 1867 and was involved with the sale to Licks. Later he was involved with the sale to George Shotto and then to the Banning Family. My grandfather owned the phone company in Long Beach and Avalon (and used to sail over there to service the local phones). My father was a Vice President of S. Calif. Edison Co when they acquired the utilities on the Island. My father's first date with my mother was in 1929 when they took the "Great White Steamer to Avalon" and danced at the Casino. Along with working there for a couple of years and over a thousand nights at "the Island" Catalina holds a very special place in my heart.
 
Bob, if you're family was involved with Catalina's electric net, you'll be glad to know that the old generator with it's (I think) 5 cylinder engine is at the Vista antique engine museum. They start it twice a year for their shows and it still runs well. Do you remember when they took it out?

By the way the fire was between the airport, at the top of the island and Avalon, on the north east end. The isthmus is at the other end.

Boris
 
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