500-acre Catalina brush fire forces Avalon evacuations

[bananas]

Source: LA Times

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A fast-moving fire swept across Santa Catalina Island this evening, charred hundreds of acres, entered Avalon and forced residents and guests to seek safety or flee the tourist area.

More than 500 acres had been consumed by the blaze that began in the center of the island, fed on dry vegetation and was pushed south and east by fierce winds. The destruction was expected to grow, said Los Angeles County fire Capt. Ron Haralson in a telephone interview.

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Today's fire was a return of a ghost from Catalina's storied past. Avalon was consumed by fire in 1915, leading to the eventual sale of the island to the Wrigley family of Chicago.

"It was due to happen," said Avalon City Councilman Scott Nelson of today's conflagration. It's "a hundred-year fire."

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Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-catalina11may11,0,4378466,full.story

[StarryNite]

1. That's terrible

Do they know what caused it?

[knight_of_the_star]

2. Could have been as simple as a hot muffler on dry grass

That island doesn't get much rainfall, especially this time of year its a huge fire hazard.

[slackmaster]

5. Or a cigarette butt carelessly tossed from a car

The island looked overgrown last time I was there, and that was over 10 years ago. Sad as it is, fire is part of the life cycle in coastal sage scrub.

[K8-EEE]

3. O-M-G!!! NOOOO!!! I was just feeling relieved about Griffith Park...

And now this!! OMG! Please God keep the fire away from Avalon (where I got married 5/11/86, glad we didn't plan our traditional trip out there this year!) and Two Harbors too.... :cry:

[Joanie Baloney]

4. My heart aches

My mom lived in Avalon from 1971-1985 where she was one of the nurses at the 12 bed hospital there. I spent summers with her and worked at the Island Sportswear store right on Crescent Avenue across from the pier. She lived in the historic Wolf house (designed by Frank Lloyd Wright) right under the chime tower. She ran for mayor once - didn't win but had a ball trying! The view from her house was a panorama of the harbor and the beautiful town of Avalon and across the sea to the distinctive view of Saddleback moutain on the mainland. Water conservation was a way of life as well as fire awareness.

The beauty and history of this get-away resort is irreplaceable. Think positive thoughts for the residents, visitors, wildlife and most of all, the brave folks fighting this inferno.

JB :cry: