Bobcat Fire may burn until Oct. 30
Blaze has consumed more than 106,000 acres
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The battle to save Mount Wilson Observatory from the raging Bobcat Fire continued, firefighting officials said at a virtual public meeting. More than two weeks since it began, the growing blaze had consumed more than 106,000 acres.
Vince Pena from the Los Angeles County Fire Department said the Bobcat Fire destroyed 18 buildings and damaged 11. He said the fire was projected to be contained around Oct. 30, labeling that an “objective, middle-ofthe-road date.”
The fire forced the evacuation of about 1,100 households and 4,000 people.
A firefighting force of 1,467 personnel, 227 engines, 18 bulldozers, six helicopters and other equipment was dispatched to the blaze.
As of Monday, more than 19,000 firefighters faced 27 major blazes around the state, Cal Fire data show.
“Since the beginning of the year, there have been well over 7,900 wildfires that have burned over 3.6 million acres in California. Since August 15, when California’s fire activity elevated, there have been 26 fatalities and over 6,400 structures destroyed,” according to a news release from the state agency.
“The scary thing about all this is we haven’t even begun our Santa Ana wind periods in Southern California,” said Daryl Osby, fire chief of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The strong Santa Ana winds bring hot, dry weather to Southern California in the fall, creating intense fire conditions.
“We’re in extreme conditions right now,” Patrick Doyle, a fire behavior analyst with the California incident management team, said Monday. He said grass was “like gasoline.”
Officials said the fire line seemed to hold along the southern end of the fire, but concern remained around the northwest and northeast portions. San Bernardino County sheriff ’s deputies were dispatched to Wrightwood to assist in case of an evacuation.
The American Red Cross set up a temporary evacuation point at Palmdale High School, and a spokesperson said it has assisted more than 170 people.