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100-759: The Kinneloa Fire was a destructive wildfire in Los Angeles County , Southern California in October of 1993. The fire destroyed 196 buildings in the communities of Altadena , Kinneloa Mesa , and Sierra Madre in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains , becoming at the time the twelfth-most destructive wildfire in California's history and one of the most destructive wildfires ever in Los Angeles County. The fire caused

200-570: A defensible space be maintained by clearing flammable materials within a prescribed distance from the structure. Communities in the Philippines also maintain fire lines 5 to 10 meters (16 to 33 ft) wide between the forest and their village, and patrol these lines during summer months or seasons of dry weather. Continued residential development in fire-prone areas and rebuilding structures destroyed by fires has been met with criticism. The ecological benefits of fire are often overridden by

300-469: A 15 mile radius. Additionally, Sensaio Tech , based in Brazil and Toronto, has released a sensor device that continuously monitors 14 different variables common in forests, ranging from soil temperature to salinity. This information is connected live back to clients through dashboard visualizations, while mobile notifications are provided regarding dangerous levels. Satellite and aerial monitoring through

400-470: A 24-hour fire day that begins at 10:00 a.m. due to the predictable increase in intensity resulting from the daytime warmth. Climate change promotes the type of weather that makes wildfires more likely. In some areas, an increase of wildfires has been attributed directly to climate change. Evidence from Earth's past also shows more fire in warmer periods. Climate change increases evapotranspiration . This can cause vegetation and soils to dry out. When

500-661: A U.S. branch of the company, arriving in Los Angeles with a worker's visa in 1993. While staying in a hotel, Huang fell and suffered a major head injury, losing consciousness. Over the following weeks, he began experiencing severe paranoia and recurring blackouts, resulting in the loss of his job. Huang could not even recall how he had ended up on the mountainside where he started the campfire. Metropolitan State Hospital psychiatrists later diagnosed Huang with multiple conditions, including major depression , schizophrenia , and brain lesions . On November 29, Huang pled no contest to

600-566: A doubling in land area burned by wildfires compared to natural levels. Humans have impacted wildfire through climate change (e.g. more intense heat waves and droughts ), land-use change , and wildfire suppression . The carbon released from wildfires can add to carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere and thus contribute to the greenhouse effect . This creates a climate change feedback . Naturally occurring wildfires can have beneficial effects on those ecosystems that have evolved with fire. In fact, many plant species depend on

700-610: A fire starts in an area with very dry vegetation, it can spread rapidly. Higher temperatures can also lengthen the fire season. This is the time of year in which severe wildfires are most likely, particularly in regions where snow is disappearing. Weather conditions are raising the risks of wildfires. But the total area burnt by wildfires has decreased. This is mostly because savanna has been converted to cropland , so there are fewer trees to burn. Climate variability including heat waves , droughts , and El Niño , and regional weather patterns, such as high-pressure ridges, can increase

800-411: A group of prominent Pasadena businessmen to consider building a wagon road to Mt. Wilson. Eighteen of the men agreed to contribute capital and, on July 12, 1889, they incorporated "The Pasadena and Mount Wilson Toll Road Company." However, the company failed before there was any progress on a roadway. Within a few years, five of the original investors reorganized and refinanced the project, but since

900-553: A homeless man or transient hiker, but after talking with interpreters and probation officers, Huang's story emerged. He was born in China and had been a successful local official there, but fled to Peru —leaving behind a wife and daughter—when he became disillusioned by Chinese Communist Party crackdowns following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre . He worked for an electronics company in Lima until he volunteered to establish

1000-587: A homeless man suffering from undiagnosed schizophrenia on the slopes of the San Gabriel Mountains above northeastern Altadena. Andres Huang, 35, was sleeping in a small grove of pine trees adjacent to the Mount Wilson Toll Road (a dirt road typically used by hikers), roughly halfway between Eaton Canyon and Henninger Flats , when he woke up cold and built a small fire from pine needles and twigs to warm himself. Huang's fire escaped

1100-584: A major incident. The LACFD requested the assistance of the Pasadena Fire Department within seven minutes of the initial call, and shortly thereafter both departments entered unified command with the Forest Service . County firefighters arrived on scene by 3:56 a.m., reporting a two-acre (0.81 ha) "creeping" fire in steep terrain. The Forest Service requested two helicopters for dropping water at first light. By 4:45 a.m.,

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1200-408: A multitude of minor injuries and one fatality; an elderly man died of pneumonia complicated by smoke inhalation. A father and son were killed by a debris flow in the burn area more than four months later. The Kinneloa Fire began as an escaped campfire on October 27 and was driven by a combination of extremely dry and flammable vegetation, strong Santa Ana winds , and rugged topography. Nearly all of

1300-751: A natural part of chaparral landscapes in Southern California, even accounting for human-driven changes in fire suppression and fire ignitions over time. On October 27, 1993, the National Park Service morning report read: Red flag warnings are in effect for low humidity and strong north to east winds in much of central and southern California. A red flag watch also remains in effect for low humidity and gusty winds in northern inland valleys. Initial attack and possible large fires are expected to continue in California due to these conditions. The red flag warning in Southern California

1400-546: A new fire detection tool is in operation at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) which uses data from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite to detect smaller fires in more detail than previous space-based products. The high-resolution data is used with a computer model to predict how a fire will change direction based on weather and land conditions. In 2014, an international campaign

1500-668: A new high speed highway was being built from La Cañada via the Arroyo Seco . The new Angeles Crest Highway was paved and ready for travel into Red Box Canyon and onward to Mt. Wilson from the back side by 1935. The historic Mt. Wilson Toll Road closed to the public in March, 1936 and was turned over to the United States Forest Service . Today, the road is a popular hiking destination leading to Henninger Flats and Mount Wilson . The road can be accessed from

1600-415: A number expected to rise to 30,000 by 2050. The economic impact is also significant, with projected costs reaching $ 240 billion annually by 2050, surpassing other climate-related damages. Over the past century, wildfires have accounted for 20–25% of global carbon emissions, the remainder from human activities. Global carbon emissions from wildfires through August 2020 equaled the average annual emissions of

1700-545: A policy of allowing some wildfires to burn is the cheapest method and an ecologically appropriate policy for many forests, they tend not to take into account the economic value of resources that are consumed by the fire, especially merchantable timber. Some studies conclude that while fuels may also be removed by logging, such thinning treatments may not be effective at reducing fire severity under extreme weather conditions. Building codes in fire-prone areas typically require that structures be built of flame-resistant materials and

1800-503: A possible resolution to human operator error. These systems may be semi- or fully automated and employ systems based on the risk area and degree of human presence, as suggested by GIS data analyses. An integrated approach of multiple systems can be used to merge satellite data, aerial imagery, and personnel position via Global Positioning System (GPS) into a collective whole for near-realtime use by wireless Incident Command Centers . A small, high risk area that features thick vegetation,

1900-531: A rapid forward rate of spread (FROS) when burning through dense uninterrupted fuels. They can move as fast as 10.8 kilometres per hour (6.7 mph) in forests and 22 kilometres per hour (14 mph) in grasslands. Wildfires can advance tangential to the main front to form a flanking front, or burn in the opposite direction of the main front by backing . They may also spread by jumping or spotting as winds and vertical convection columns carry firebrands (hot wood embers) and other burning materials through

2000-695: A remote site and sent via overnight mail to the fire manager . During the Yellowstone fires of 1988 , a data station was established in West Yellowstone , permitting the delivery of satellite-based fire information in approximately four hours. Public hotlines, fire lookouts in towers, and ground and aerial patrols can be used as a means of early detection of forest fires. However, accurate human observation may be limited by operator fatigue , time of day, time of year, and geographic location. Electronic systems have gained popularity in recent years as

2100-569: A strong human presence, or is close to a critical urban area can be monitored using a local sensor network . Detection systems may include wireless sensor networks that act as automated weather systems: detecting temperature, humidity, and smoke. These may be battery-powered, solar-powered, or tree-rechargeable : able to recharge their battery systems using the small electrical currents in plant material. Larger, medium-risk areas can be monitored by scanning towers that incorporate fixed cameras and sensors to detect smoke or additional factors such as

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2200-405: Is governed in part by topography , as land shape determines factors such as available sunlight and water for plant growth. Overall, fire types can be generally characterized by their fuels as follows: Wildfires occur when all the necessary elements of a fire triangle come together in a susceptible area: an ignition source is brought into contact with a combustible material such as vegetation that

2300-728: Is no longer an expectation, but the majority of wildfires are often extinguished before they grow out of control. While more than 99% of the 10,000 new wildfires each year are contained, escaped wildfires under extreme weather conditions are difficult to suppress without a change in the weather. Wildfires in Canada and the US burn an average of 54,500 square kilometers (13,000,000 acres) per year. Above all, fighting wildfires can become deadly. A wildfire's burning front may also change direction unexpectedly and jump across fire breaks. Intense heat and smoke can lead to disorientation and loss of appreciation of

2400-473: Is prone to offset errors, anywhere from 2 to 3 kilometers (1 to 2 mi) for MODIS and AVHRR data and up to 12 kilometers (7.5 mi) for GOES data. Satellites in geostationary orbits may become disabled, and satellites in polar orbits are often limited by their short window of observation time. Cloud cover and image resolution may also limit the effectiveness of satellite imagery. Global Forest Watch provides detailed daily updates on fire alerts. In 2015

2500-662: Is subjected to enough heat and has an adequate supply of oxygen from the ambient air. A high moisture content usually prevents ignition and slows propagation, because higher temperatures are needed to evaporate any water in the material and heat the material to its fire point . Dense forests usually provide more shade, resulting in lower ambient temperatures and greater humidity , and are therefore less susceptible to wildfires. Less dense material such as grasses and leaves are easier to ignite because they contain less water than denser material such as branches and trunks. Plants continuously lose water by evapotranspiration , but water loss

2600-416: Is usually balanced by water absorbed from the soil, humidity, or rain. When this balance is not maintained, often as a consequence of droughts , plants dry out and are therefore more flammable. A wildfire front is the portion sustaining continuous flaming combustion, where unburned material meets active flames, or the smoldering transition between unburned and burned material. As the front approaches,

2700-418: The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season "an independent study found online bots and trolls exaggerating the role of arson in the fires." In the 2023 Canadian wildfires false claims of arson gained traction on social media; however, arson is generally not a main cause of wildfires in Canada. In California, generally 6–10% of wildfires annually are arson. Coal seam fires burn in the thousands around

2800-965: The Amazon rainforest . The fires in the latter were caused mainly by illegal logging . The smoke from the fires expanded on huge territory including major cities, dramatically reducing air quality. As of August 2020, the wildfires in that year were 13% worse than in 2019 due primarily to climate change , deforestation and agricultural burning. The Amazon rainforest 's existence is threatened by fires. Record-breaking wildfires in 2021 occurred in Turkey , Greece and Russia , thought to be linked to climate change. The carbon released from wildfires can add to greenhouse gas concentrations. Climate models do not yet fully reflect this feedback . Wildfires release large amounts of carbon dioxide, black and brown carbon particles, and ozone precursors such as volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides (NOx) into

2900-569: The European Union . In 2020, the carbon released by California's wildfires was significantly larger than the state's other carbon emissions. Forest fires in Indonesia in 1997 were estimated to have released between 0.81 and 2.57 giga tonnes (0.89 and 2.83 billion short tons ) of CO 2 into the atmosphere, which is between 13–40% of the annual global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. In June and July 2019, fires in

3000-480: The Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS). Between 2022–2023, wildfires throughout North America prompted an uptake in the delivery and design of various technologies using artificial intelligence for early detection, prevention, and prediction of wildfires. Wildfire suppression depends on the technologies available in the area in which the wildfire occurs. In less developed nations

3100-478: The Incident Command Post near Midwick Drive and Altadena Drive burned over, and had to be re-established at Eaton Canyon Nature Center. By 6:00 a.m., incident commanders were ordering engine strike teams (a strike team consists of five engines) for structure protection. The fire reached the arroyo at the bottom outlet of Eaton Canyon between 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.. When it reached

Kinneloa Fire - Misplaced Pages Continue

3200-829: The Laguna Fire in Orange County , the Green Meadow Fire in Ventura County , the Ortega Fire in Riverside County , and several others. In the autumn of 1993, California had experienced a full 6 years of severe drought (between 1986 and 1992), which contributed to a build-up of dead and dry brush on Southern California hillsides. This long dry stretch was followed by the wet winter of 1992–1993, which allowed new grass and brush to grow in

3300-504: The Paris climate agreement . Due to the complex oxidative chemistry occurring during the transport of wildfire smoke in the atmosphere, the toxicity of emissions was indicated to increase over time. Atmospheric models suggest that these concentrations of sooty particles could increase absorption of incoming solar radiation during winter months by as much as 15%. The Amazon is estimated to hold around 90 billion tons of carbon. As of 2019,

3400-680: The United States General Land Office $ 800 for title to 640 acres (2.6 km ) on the mountain top. In 1904, The Mount Wilson Toll Road Company enlarged its holdings to 1,050 acres (4 km ). The company entered into a 99-year lease with the Carnegie Institution in 1905, providing 40 acres (160,000 m ) of the mountain top for the location of a new observatory, today known as the Mount Wilson Observatory . Those involved with

3500-429: The taiga biome are particularly susceptible. Wildfires can severely impact humans and their settlements. Effects include for example the direct health impacts of smoke and fire, as well as destruction of property (especially in wildland–urban interfaces ), and economic losses. There is also the potential for contamination of water and soil. At a global level, human practices have made the impacts of wildfire worse, with

3600-463: The Arctic emitted more than 140 megatons of carbon dioxide, according to an analysis by CAMS. To put that into perspective this amounts to the same amount of carbon emitted by 36 million cars in a year. The recent wildfires and their massive CO 2 emissions mean that it will be important to take them into consideration when implementing measures for reaching greenhouse gas reduction targets accorded with

3700-676: The Harvard telescope had been removed and interest in Mt. Wilson had diminished, they thought it better to downsize the project from a twelve-foot road to a four-foot road. By June 1891, after only five months work, a usable ten mile (16 km) trail was established. In July the new toll road was officially opened to the public and the toll fixed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors at 25 cents for hikers (equivalent to $ 8 in 2023) and 50 cents for horseback. The new road

3800-536: The Interior Bruce Babbitt , and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy to Southern California to help coordinate emergency management and recovery efforts. The Kinneloa Fire cost approximately $ 65.5 million, with $ 58.5 million sustained in losses, plus nearly $ 7 million spent on the suppression of the fire. At the time, it was the twelfth most destructive wildfire in recorded California history, and though it has since fallen well out of

3900-736: The Kinneloa Fire was a proximate cause of the debris flow, Los Angeles County officials applied for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to fund the search. The fire ultimately burned 196 structures. One hundred and twenty-one of those structures were houses, and they included the Pasadena home of football coach Johnnie Lynn and the former residence of naturalist John Burroughs . An additional 40 homes were damaged. Dozens of vehicles were also destroyed. The fire impinged on, but did not burn,

4000-509: The Kinneloa debris retention basin, one of several, over the following winter. Sheriff's deputies found and arrested Huang at 6:45 a.m., more than three hours after the fire had started, and he was arraigned on October 29. He was injured from running down the hillside through brush, disoriented, and severely dehydrated. He also spoke no English, complicating efforts by police to understand his story. News reports often referred to Huang as

4100-561: The San Gabriel Valley. During several different storms in the spring after the fire, the National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for parts of Altadena and Sierra Madre at risk from debris flows from the burn area. Many residents evacuated, including most of the residents of Pasadena Glen, a canyon neighborhood immediately east of Kinneloa Mesa. Around 2,000 cubic yards of material collected in

Kinneloa Fire - Misplaced Pages Continue

4200-505: The United States in the early 20th century and fires were reported using telephones, carrier pigeons , and heliographs . Aerial and land photography using instant cameras were used in the 1950s until infrared scanning was developed for fire detection in the 1960s. However, information analysis and delivery was often delayed by limitations in communication technology. Early satellite-derived fire analyses were hand-drawn on maps at

4300-720: The Western US, earlier snowmelt and associated warming has also been associated with an increase in length and severity of the wildfire season, or the most fire-prone time of the year. A 2019 study indicates that the increase in fire risk in California may be partially attributable to human-induced climate change . In the summer of 1974–1975 (southern hemisphere), Australia suffered its worst recorded wildfire, when 15% of Australia's land mass suffered "extensive fire damage". Fires that summer burned up an estimated 117 million hectares (290 million acres ; 1,170,000 square kilometres ; 450,000 square miles ). In Australia,

4400-617: The afternoon, the Santa Ana winds subsided. Firefighters took advantage of the conditions, and by 5:00 p.m., most of the spot fires in Kinneloa Mesa were extinguished. Near sunset, firefighters made two simultaneous stands: 39 engines arrayed at Rubio Canyon stopped the fire there, though several homes were lost on Zane Grey Terrace, and more firefighters grouped at Park Vista Drive above Sierra Madre. After two hours of structure defense and setting backfires, they were able to prevent

4500-435: The air over roads, rivers, and other barriers that may otherwise act as firebreaks . Torching and fires in tree canopies encourage spotting, and dry ground fuels around a wildfire are especially vulnerable to ignition from firebrands. Spotting can create spot fires as hot embers and firebrands ignite fuels downwind from the fire. In Australian bushfires , spot fires are known to occur as far as 20 kilometres (12 mi) from

4600-732: The annual number of hot days (above 35 °C) and very hot days (above 40 °C) has increased significantly in many areas of the country since 1950. The country has always had bushfires but in 2019, the extent and ferocity of these fires increased dramatically. For the first time catastrophic bushfire conditions were declared for Greater Sydney. New South Wales and Queensland declared a state of emergency but fires were also burning in South Australia and Western Australia. In 2019, extreme heat and dryness caused massive wildfires in Siberia , Alaska , Canary Islands , Australia , and in

4700-464: The arroyo, the fire split into two main flanks: one moved west towards Altadena, and one moved south towards Canyon Close Road. At around 6:10 a.m., the incident command post's new location at the Nature Center burned over again. Evacuations began for approximately 2,000 residents between Sierra Madre to the east and Altadena to the west. Saint Luke's Medical Center was included, resulting in

4800-444: The atmosphere. These emissions affect radiation, clouds, and climate on regional and even global scales. Wildfires also emit substantial amounts of semi-volatile organic species that can partition from the gas phase to form secondary organic aerosol (SOA) over hours to days after emission. In addition, the formation of the other pollutants as the air is transported can lead to harmful exposures for populations in regions far away from

4900-407: The circle of stones he had lit it in almost immediately. He attempted to smother the fire, but it had grown too large, and Huang fled. Los Angeles County Fire Department (LAFCD) Station 66, located at the base of Eaton Canyon, received the first call about the fire at 3:48 a.m. PDT . It quickly became clear that the incident, quickly dispatched as the Kinneloa Fire, had the potential to become

5000-601: The damage in Altadena and Kinneloa Mesa. Wilson declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles County and compared the neighborhoods devastated by the Kinneloa Fire to the aftermath of the Oakland fire. In response to the wildfire outbreak, on October 28 President Bill Clinton in a speech declared five California counties disaster areas (including Los Angeles County) and promised federal assistance. He sent Federal Emergency Management Agency Director James Lee Witt , Secretary of

5100-649: The days of the local Native Americans. It was Benjamin Davis Wilson who established a proper trail to the summit of Mt. Wilson from Sierra Madre through the Little Santa Anita Canyon . The installation of the Harvard telescope in 1889 was fraught with difficulties, particularly during transport up the old Wilson trail. These difficulties spurred an interest in a more accessible Mount Wilson roadway. In June 1889, Judge Benjamin Eaton gathered

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5200-671: The direction of the fire, which can make fires particularly dangerous. For example, during the 1949 Mann Gulch fire in Montana , United States, thirteen smokejumpers died when they lost their communication links, became disoriented, and were overtaken by the fire. In the Australian February 2009 Victorian bushfires , at least 173 people died and over 2,029 homes and 3,500 structures were lost when they became engulfed by wildfire. Mount Wilson Toll Road Mount Wilson had always been active with human passage starting from

5300-697: The earth's atmosphere has 415 parts per million of carbon, and the destruction of the Amazon would add about 38 parts per million. Some research has shown wildfire smoke can have a cooling effect. Research in 2007 stated that black carbon in snow changed temperature three times more than atmospheric carbon dioxide. As much as 94 percent of Arctic warming may be caused by dark carbon on snow that initiates melting. The dark carbon comes from fossil fuels burning, wood and other biofuels, and forest fires. Melting can occur even at low concentrations of dark carbon (below five parts per billion)". Wildfire prevention refers to

5400-574: The east side. The neighborhood contains many narrow streets (some only 18 feet (5.5 m) wide) and multiple dead ends, making it a dangerous environment for firefighters—the Pasadena Star-News went so far as to call those streets "deathtraps". According to the Star-News , the chimney-like effect of the strong winds and pre-heating blew the fire up the canyon sides and into Kinneloa Mesa in just 90 seconds. Many homes, particularly those on

5500-488: The east, they used dozers to widen a large firebreak on the ridge between Little Santa Anita Canyon, with the most fire activity, and Big Santa Anita Canyon, which contained dozens of summer cabins and from which the fire might have threatened Sierra Madre. These efforts were supported by aircraft dropping water and fire retardant, including Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters—their use a first for Los Angeles County—and Lockheed C-130 Hercules fixed-wing aircraft. By October 31,

5600-411: The economic and safety benefits of protecting structures and human life. The demand for timely, high-quality fire information has increased in recent years. Fast and effective detection is a key factor in wildfire fighting. Early detection efforts were focused on early response, accurate results in both daytime and nighttime, and the ability to prioritize fire danger. Fire lookout towers were used in

5700-506: The edges of the canyons, quickly caught fire. By 7:15 a.m., the fire was 300 acres (120 ha), and by 8:15 a.m., more than 600 acres (240 ha). As the fire behavior increased, it burned as much as 300 acres (120 ha) every 10 minutes. At 8:00 a.m., thick smoke shorted out power lines in Kinneloa Mesa. This cut power to one of the water reservoirs operated by the Kinneloa Irrigation District,

5800-552: The effect of weather on the fire. Wildfire severity results from a combination of factors such as available fuels, physical setting, and weather. Climatic cycles with wet periods that create substantial fuels, followed by drought and heat, often precede severe wildfires. These cycles have been intensified by climate change . Wildfires are a common type of disaster in some regions, including Siberia (Russia), California (United States), British Columbia (Canada), and Australia . Areas with Mediterranean climates or in

5900-412: The effects of fire for growth and reproduction. The ignition of a fire takes place through either natural causes or human activity (deliberate or not). Natural occurrences that can ignite wildfires without the involvement of humans include lightning , volcanic eruptions , sparks from rock falls, and spontaneous combustions . Sources of human-caused fire may include arson, accidental ignition, or

6000-462: The evacuation of at least 125 patients as well as at least 50 residents from nearby nursing homes. Temporary shelters were established at several local public schools, including Eliot Middle School, Wilson Middle School, and John Muir High School . The incident command post relocated to Victory Park . Even as Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopters arrived on scene to begin dropping water, structures in Altadena began to burn at 6:45 a.m. At

6100-420: The fire from progressing into the neighborhoods to their south. The National Weather Service forecast a return to Santa Ana winds on October 30–31: weaker than the October 27–28 episode, but still concerning to firefighters as multiple fires, including the Kinneloa Fire, remained uncontained. A Forest Service officer fretted: "This area burns very aggressively with no winds at all. I'm very worried," in advance of

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6200-402: The fire front. Especially large wildfires may affect air currents in their immediate vicinities by the stack effect : air rises as it is heated, and large wildfires create powerful updrafts that will draw in new, cooler air from surrounding areas in thermal columns . Great vertical differences in temperature and humidity encourage pyrocumulus clouds , strong winds, and fire whirls with

6300-417: The fire heats both the surrounding air and woody material through convection and thermal radiation . First, wood is dried as water is vaporized at a temperature of 100 °C (212 °F). Next, the pyrolysis of wood at 230 °C (450 °F) releases flammable gases. Finally, wood can smolder at 380 °C (720 °F) or, when heated sufficiently, ignite at 590 °C (1,000 °F). Even before

6400-427: The fire was 95 percent contained, and on November 1, the Kinneloa Fire was declared 100 percent contained. At peak staffing, at least 2,100 firefighters had worked to contain it. The Kinneloa Fire caused at least 38 minor injuries, at least 29 of them to firefighters. Most of the firefighter injuries were among crews cutting firebreaks by hand on the hillsides, though none of them were serious. The only direct death from

6500-531: The fire was Alfred Wagner, 98, who died on November 9 of pneumonia . The Sheriff's Department said the death was caused by complications from smoke inhalation that occurred on October 27, when Wagner attempted to defend his home near Eaton Canyon with a garden hose before being made to evacuate by his caretaker. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office considered bringing involuntary manslaughter charges against Huang for Wagner's death but ultimately declined to do so. Two fatalities occurred when, after rains

6600-549: The fire was still only three acres (1.2 ha). The fire's behavior quickly changed as the sun rose and the Santa Ana winds arrived. Wind gusts of up to 40–60 miles per hour (64–97 km/h) began to spread the fire rapidly. The incident command requested air tankers. Around 5:30 a.m., the fire trapped and overran 15 firefighters on the toll road, though the deployment of fire shelters prevented any serious injuries. The fire began to move down through Eaton Canyon, and evacuations in nearby neighborhoods began. At 5:45 a.m.,

6700-452: The flames of a wildfire arrive at a particular location, heat transfer from the wildfire front warms the air to 800 °C (1,470 °F), which pre-heats and dries flammable materials, causing materials to ignite faster and allowing the fire to spread faster. High-temperature and long-duration surface wildfires may encourage flashover or torching : the drying of tree canopies and their subsequent ignition from below. Wildfires have

6800-714: The following March, a father and son on a hike were killed by debris flows in a narrow canyon in the burn area above Sierra Madre. John Henderson, 33, and Matthew Henderson, 9, were on an outing in Bailey Canyon when a presumed cloudburst over the scorched burn area led to a sudden and violent flash flood. Their bodies were swept into the Bailey Canyon Wilderness Park debris basin , and an exhaustive day-and-night excavation using bulldozers , backhoes , and dump trucks took 15 days to locate their remains under 18 feet (5.5 m) of mud. Arguing that

6900-441: The force of tornadoes at speeds of more than 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph). Rapid rates of spread, prolific crowning or spotting, the presence of fire whirls, and strong convection columns signify extreme conditions. Intensity also increases during daytime hours. Burn rates of smoldering logs are up to five times greater during the day due to lower humidity, increased temperatures, and increased wind speeds. Sunlight warms

7000-524: The forecast winds of 15–25 miles per hour (24–40 km/h), temperatures on October 27 were forecast to reach the upper 80s to lower 90s in degrees Fahrenheit. The overall resulting weather pattern concerned regional fire officials, and the Angeles National Forest was closed to recreational usage between October 27 and 29. The Kinneloa Fire began before dawn on the morning of October 27, 1993. It originated as an escaped campfire, built by

7100-454: The ground during the day which creates air currents that travel uphill. At night the land cools, creating air currents that travel downhill. Wildfires are fanned by these winds and often follow the air currents over hills and through valleys. Fires in Europe occur frequently during the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. Wildfire suppression operations in the United States revolve around

7200-508: The high winds after 9:30 a.m. As the day went on, other wildfires in Southern California grew into major incidents with resource demands of their own: 25 engine companies that had come from Orange County left for the Laguna Fire, under a mutual aid clause that allowed them to return in case of emergency. The Kinneloa Irrigation District water tanks were empty by 11:45 a.m., leaving firefighters unable to hook up to fire hydrants in

7300-495: The infrared signature of carbon dioxide produced by fires. Additional capabilities such as night vision , brightness detection, and color change detection may also be incorporated into sensor arrays . The Department of Natural Resources signed a contract with PanoAI for the installation of 360 degree 'rapid detection' cameras around the Pacific northwest, which are mounted on cell towers and are capable of 24/7 monitoring of

7400-622: The local water company. Because Kinneloa Mesa rose above the surrounding terrain, keeping the reservoirs full required pumping water from wells further downhill. Without the power lines, and with no backup generators installed (for lack of funds), the District could not long maintain water pressure for long in the Kinneloa neighborhoods. Helicopters continued to drop water, refilling near Verdugo Hills Hospital in La Cañada Flintridge , but fixed-wing air tankers were unable to operate in

7500-475: The main building for guests staying overnight. Destroyed by a fire in 1913, the original hotel was replaced by a larger one on the same site which included a large swimming pool. As new, larger telescopes were designed for the Carnegie Observatory, an automobile roadway became necessary to accommodate the trucks hauling parts up the mountain. In 1907 the trail was widened to ten feet with most of

7600-559: The misdemeanor charge of starting an illegal open fire. He remained in a mental hospital until his sentencing in December. On December 21, Huang was released from jail and sentenced to three years of probation , under the condition that he receive treatment at a residential treatment center. Following fires in the area: Wildfire A wildfire , forest fire , or a bushfire is an unplanned, uncontrolled and unpredictable fire in an area of combustible vegetation . Depending on

7700-509: The new observatory were given free use of the toll road and half the water rights on the mountain. In return, the Carnegie Institution agreed that the public would always have access to the observatory. The Carnegie Observatory renewed interest in Mt. Wilson and attracted sightseers to the mountain top. In 1905, to accommodate the many new visitors, the toll road company constructed a one-story hotel with cottages situated around

7800-409: The observatories, unless drivers phoned ahead up the mountain. Then there were the sharp turns that required most cars to negotiate dangerously precipitous road edges. Mr. L.L. Whitman of Pasadena, who made the ascent in his 1907 Franklin , said "Not for five hundred dollars would I make the trip again." For those preferring not to drive, there was the popular Mt. Wilson Stage Line. By the early 1930s

7900-484: The preemptive methods aimed at reducing the risk of fires as well as lessening its severity and spread. Prevention techniques aim to manage air quality, maintain ecological balances, protect resources, and to affect future fires. Prevention policies must consider the role that humans play in wildfires, since, for example, 95% of forest fires in Europe are related to human involvement. Wildfire prevention programs around

8000-429: The ranch and art colony of bohemian artist Jirayr Zorthian in Altadena. Cal Fire officials and others called the Kinneloa Fire an example of the "fire of the future", referring to wildfires burning near inhabited areas that could not be countered with common indirect firefighting tactics. Multiple California politicians, including Senator Dianne Feinstein and Governor of California Pete Wilson , came to survey

8100-404: The risk and alter the behavior of wildfires dramatically. Years of high precipitation can produce rapid vegetation growth, which when followed by warmer periods can encourage more widespread fires and longer fire seasons. High temperatures dry out the fuel loads and make them more flammable, increasing tree mortality and posing significant risks to global forest health. Since the mid-1980s, in

8200-445: The same time, the southern flank of the fire moved east, driven by the winds towards Kinneloa Mesa. The unincorporated community of Kinneloa Mesa consists of residential neighborhoods of single-family homes, sitting atop a broad mesa that emerges where the San Gabriel Mountains' foothills flatten out, carved by multiple steep canyons that drop down to Eaton Canyon on the west side and the neighborhoods of Pasadena Glen and Sierra Madre on

8300-612: The spring and then dry out once more over the summer and fall. Southern California mountain vegetation is rife with species like chamise and manzanita , which comprise chaparral : one of the most fire-prone plant communities, containing flammable oils and resins and slow to rot or decay. Homes constituted fuels, too: many houses that burned in the Kinneloa Fire were highlighted by firefighters as being particularly susceptible to destruction because of their flammable wood shingle roofs. Studies of historical charcoal records indicate that large wildfires driven by Santa Ana winds have long been

8400-448: The structural losses occurred on the first day, and more favorable weather—along with the efforts of over 2,000 firefighters—kept the fire within the mountainous backcountry of the Angeles National Forest until it was declared fully contained on November 1. The Kinneloa Fire was one of a rash of wildfires that broke out across Southern California in late October 1993, most of them driven by the same episode of Santa Ana winds. These included

8500-399: The techniques used can be as simple as throwing sand or beating the fire with sticks or palm fronds. In more advanced nations, the suppression methods vary due to increased technological capacity. Silver iodide can be used to encourage snow fall, while fire retardants and water can be dropped onto fires by unmanned aerial vehicles , planes , and helicopters . Complete fire suppression

8600-650: The top 20 statewide, it remains one of the most destructive wildfires in the history of Los Angeles County. After the fire, more than 63 miles (101 km) of recreational trails and roads in Angeles National Forest were closed and not reopened until spring. Less than a week after the fire, county workers began spreading a mixture of seeds over 3,900 acres (1,600 ha) of the burn area. The seed mix included California poppies , deer weed , 'Cucamonga' California brome , rose clover , and non-native rye grass (which environmentalists opposed). The process

8700-723: The type of vegetation present, a wildfire may be more specifically identified as a bushfire ( in Australia ), desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, peat fire, prairie fire, vegetation fire, or veld fire. Some natural forest ecosystems depend on wildfire. Wildfires are different from controlled or prescribed burning , which are carried out to provide a benefit for people. Modern forest management often engages in prescribed burns to mitigate fire risk and promote natural forest cycles. However, controlled burns can turn into wildfires by mistake. Wildfires can be classified by cause of ignition, physical properties, combustible material present, and

8800-540: The uncontrolled use of fire in land-clearing and agriculture such as the slash-and-burn farming in Southeast Asia. In the tropics , farmers often practice the slash-and-burn method of clearing fields during the dry season . In middle latitudes , the most common human causes of wildfires are equipment generating sparks (chainsaws, grinders, mowers, etc.), overhead power lines , and arson . Arson may account for over 20% of human caused fires. However, in

8900-404: The upper parts of Kinneloa Mesa. By noon, the fire was approximately 4,000 acres (1,600 ha). Structures continued to burn throughout the afternoon along the fire's 8-mile perimeter, even as multiple homeowners remained to defend their properties with what they had on hand. The neighborhood of Pasadena Glen, below Kinneloa Mesa's eastern flank, went largely undefended; 27 homes burned there. In

9000-936: The use of planes, helicopter, or UAVs can provide a wider view and may be sufficient to monitor very large, low risk areas. These more sophisticated systems employ GPS and aircraft-mounted infrared or high-resolution visible cameras to identify and target wildfires. Satellite-mounted sensors such as Envisat 's Advanced Along Track Scanning Radiometer and European Remote-Sensing Satellite 's Along-Track Scanning Radiometer can measure infrared radiation emitted by fires, identifying hot spots greater than 39 °C (102 °F). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 's Hazard Mapping System combines remote-sensing data from satellite sources such as Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES), Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) for detection of fire and smoke plume locations. However, satellite detection

9100-411: The wildfires. While direct emissions of harmful pollutants can affect first responders and residents, wildfire smoke can also be transported over long distances and impact air quality across local, regional, and global scales. The health effects of wildfire smoke, such as worsening cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, extend beyond immediate exposure, contributing to nearly 16,000 annual deaths,

9200-491: The winds. However, to the gratitude of fire officials, the predicted gusts of 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) did not materialize. The fire was 50 percent contained by the night of October 29, as firefighters shored up multiple flanks: to the west, above Altadena, they set a 200-acre (81 ha) backfire to strengthen control lines along Chaney Trail, which stopped the fire from continuing into Millard Canyon and threatening Jet Propulsion Laboratory and The Meadows subdivision. To

9300-430: The work being done by hand with the use of Japanese laborers and mule-drawn scrapers. The road was widened to a full 12-foot (4 m) roadway in 1917 to facilitate the transportation of parts for the 100-inch (2,500 mm) Hooker Telescope . Despite the advertised access for automobiles, the driving public was discouraged from using the toll road. First there was the fear of encountering large freight trucks servicing

9400-519: The world may employ techniques such as wildland fire use (WFU) and prescribed or controlled burns . Wildland fire use refers to any fire of natural causes that is monitored but allowed to burn. Controlled burns are fires ignited by government agencies under less dangerous weather conditions. Other objectives can include maintenance of healthy forests, rangelands, and wetlands, and support of ecosystem diversity. Strategies for wildfire prevention, detection, control and suppression have varied over

9500-500: The world, such as those in Burning Mountain , New South Wales; Centralia , Pennsylvania; and several coal-sustained fires in China . They can also flare up unexpectedly and ignite nearby flammable material. (Fire) Good luck deleting this, Frost! (Fire) The spread of wildfires varies based on the flammable material present, its vertical arrangement and moisture content, and weather conditions. Fuel arrangement and density

9600-466: The years. One common and inexpensive technique to reduce the risk of uncontrolled wildfires is controlled burning : intentionally igniting smaller less-intense fires to minimize the amount of flammable material available for a potential wildfire. Vegetation may be burned periodically to limit the accumulation of plants and other debris that may serve as fuel, while also maintaining high species diversity. While other people claim that controlled burns and

9700-467: Was called the "New Mt. Wilson Trail", and it soon became more popular than the old Sierra Madre trail. Foot and pack animal traffic became so heavy that, in June 1893, the trail was widened to six feet to facilitate two-way travel. Gradually the Mt. Wilson Toll Road Company acquired control of most of the popular lands on the mountain. In 1896 they acquired both Strain's and Martin's camps, and in 1901 paid

9800-524: Was deemed necessary because of the risk of floods and debris flows: according to a member of the government rehabilitation team for the Kinneloa Fire burn area, approximately 80 percent of the footprint burned at a high severity, leaving no vegetation to help hold the steep hillsides together. Rainfall in November, shortly after the fire, caused mudslides in the fire scars across Southern California. Fire departments distributed tens of thousands of sandbags in

9900-573: Was due to forecast Santa Ana winds. Santa Ana winds are a regular meteorological phenomenon in the autumn, generated when a high-pressure system builds in the Great Basin . The system pushes air clockwise, downwards from the northeast into the Los Angeles Basin , heating and drying it as it descends. The airmass also accelerates as it is forced through gaps in the mountains or over ridges, creating strong downslope winds. In addition to

10000-794: Was organized in South Africa's Kruger National Park to validate fire detection products including the new VIIRS active fire data. In advance of that campaign, the Meraka Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria, South Africa, an early adopter of the VIIRS 375 m fire product, put it to use during several large wildfires in Kruger. Since 2021 NASA has provided active fire locations in near real-time via

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