Station Fire

Station Fire
Name	Station Fire
Date	August–October 2009
Location	Los Angeles County, California, San Gabriel Mountains, Angeles National Forest
Area	160,557 acres
Cause	Arson (fatality)
Structures destroyed	>60

Station Fire The Station Fire was a catastrophic wildfire in Los Angeles County, California that burned extensive portions of the Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains during late summer and autumn 2009. The conflagration threatened major infrastructure such as Interstate 210, Interstate 5, and the Los Angeles Aqueduct, prompted large-scale evacuations from communities including La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, and Azusa, and resulted in two firefighter fatalities and widespread ecological and recreational damage. Federal, state, and local agencies including the United States Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department coordinated suppression, recovery, and investigation efforts.

Background

In 2009, Southern California experienced conditions conducive to large fires: extended drought influenced by El Niño–Southern Oscillation variability, reduced winter precipitation linked to the 2008–2009 California drought, and abundant chaparral fuels across the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument area. The burned landscape included terrain managed by the United States Forest Service and recreational sites such as Mount Wilson observatory and trails within the Angeles Crest Highway corridor. Prior regional incidents—such as the Horseshoe Fire (2008), Sayre Fire (2008), and the historical Cedar Fire (2003)—had stressed firefighting resources from mutual aid partners like the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Timeline of the Fire

The blaze ignited on August 26, 2009, near the Station Fire Trailhead area above La Cañada Flintridge and rapidly expanded due to Santa Ana winds, steep topography, and dry vegetation. Within days it crossed major ridgelines, threatened the Mount Wilson Observatory, and forced closure of segments of Angeles Crest Highway and access to the San Gabriel River watershed. By early September the fire had grown into one of the largest in the modern records of the Los Angeles Basin, requiring federal disaster declarations involving the Federal Emergency Management Agency and coordination with the National Interagency Fire Center. Containment progressed through September and October as aerial tankers from operators like Aero Union and local helicopters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department conducted water and retardant drops. The incident was declared controlled after extensive mop-up and monitoring operations supervised by the InciWeb incident management team and the United States Forest Service incident commanders.

Causes and Investigation

Investigators concluded the fire was started by arson, linked to an individual apprehended after a multiagency probe involving the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Forest Service Office of Inspector General. Forensic analysis referenced fire behavior modeling from the US Forest Service Fire Modeling Institute and field evidence cataloged by the California Department of Justice crime labs. The probe considered ignition patterns in relation to nearby human activity nodes such as the Bridge to Nowhere trailhead, and evidence collected was presented in criminal proceedings coordinated with the Los Angeles County District Attorney.

Impact and Damage

The fire consumed 160,557 acres across the Angeles National Forest and adjacent lands, destroyed over 60 structures in communities like La Cañada Flintridge and Sierra Madre, and resulted in the deaths of two firefighters from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and multiple injuries among crews from agencies including the United States Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Cultural and scientific resources impacted included fire damage near the Mount Wilson Observatory complex and erosion threats to the Los Angeles Aqueduct watershed, which supplies water from the Owens Valley system. Recreational closures affected destinations managed by the National Park Service and local parks departments, disrupting trail access at sites such as the San Gabriel Canyon and facilities used by the Boy Scouts of America and outdoor organizations like the Sierra Club.

Response and Recovery

Suppression involved mutual aid from dozens of agencies, including the United States Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and federal aviation resources coordinated by the National Interagency Fire Center. Emergency proclamations by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger enabled state resources and recovery funds administered in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Post-fire recovery included erosion control projects led by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and revegetation programs funded by the California Natural Resources Agency, with involvement from local conservation groups like the Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land. Restoration of trails and infrastructure engaged volunteers coordinated by the AmeriCorps and local chapters of the Sierra Club and Mountaineers. Health impacts prompted advisories from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health concerning ash and smoke exposure.

Legal Actions and Policy Changes

Criminal charges related to the arson were prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney with investigative support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and forensic services from the California Department of Justice. Civil claims and cost-recovery actions involved the United States Forest Service seeking suppression costs against defendants. The incident prompted policy reviews at the United States Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection concerning fuel management, use of aerial assets like contractors from companies such as Aero Union and Erickson Air-Crane operators, and interagency incident command protocols under the National Incident Management System. Legislative responses in the California State Legislature and municipal ordinances in Los Angeles and surrounding cities strengthened defensible space requirements and funding for hazardous fuel reduction programs administered by agencies including the California Natural Resources Agency.

Category:2009 wildfires in California Category:Wildfires in Los Angeles County, California