lab#8

From 8/16/2009 to 10/16/2009, the California Station Fire is considered one of the largest wildfires in the history of modern day California. It is burned through 250 square miles, 90 homes and claimed the lives of two firefighters (Pringle). It began in the Angeles National Forest but soon grew so large that in total, it affected the areas of La Canada Flintridge, Glendale, Acton, La Crescenta, Pasadena, Little Rock, Altadena, Sunland, and Tujunga (2009 California Wildfires). And over 3500 personnel from around the state were activated to extinguish the fire (Pringle). The map has pointed out three aspects of this terrible fire in three days (8/29/2009~9/1/2009). The first is the location of this deadly fire happened in northern mountains of Los Angles, and the rivers in the mountains can’t help people to stop the fire spreading. The second is the spread of the fire is from southwest to northeast and the speed is fast, in this three days the areas of fire become almost 20 times larger than began. The last is that the fire is burned from low to high in the mountain area.
Based on the color-coded areas, the map displays the growth and the spread of the fire from August 1th to September 1th. In August 1th layer (dark red color) seems quite small in reference to the total area affected. But that was only three days after the first started, the areas of the fire cover the yellow color seems to occupy majority of the affected area. According to LA Times, between August 31st and September 1st, the fire grew more than 122,000 acres overnight (Becerra, Fire grows). That can definitely be seen by the pale yellow shading on the map. And the map not only shows the growth of the Station Fire, it also shows the direction of the growth. From the additions in acreage, the fire spread from southwest to northeast, and covered a large number of forest mountain area, the spread eastward due to the reasons of wind direction as well as the vegetations in the forest and the summer temperature higher than before in L.A. mountain area. The temperature reported in degrees Fahrenheit at 1 p.m. LST. Humidity – The relative humidity (RH) represented as a percent of maximum for the reported temperature. Fires become more difficult to control when RH is low. Readings of 15 percent or less are cause for great concern (FIRE WEATHER DANGER TERMS AND EXPLANATIONS). Because the high temperature of L.A. in 2009 summer, the amount of precipitation was lower than any time before. The rivers around the mountain area didn’t have enough power to stop the fire spread.
We can also find information by looking at the elevation change of the areas affected. Through the DEM feature on the map, we could clear to see that the fire spread upslope through the Angeles National Forest and large parts of the San Gabriel Mountains. “At Mt. Wilson, the intensity and unpredictability of the blaze, which continued shifting directions, forced fire crews to pull back from the mountaintop. With the blaze burning on both sides of the only access road to the complex, firefighters could become trapped if the inferno suddenly raced up the canyon walls (Becerra, Fire Grows).” Also, the quick and large spread of the fire was also due to the steep terrain making it difficult for firefighters to reach the fire (Spread of Station Fire). The reason of fire spread upslope is the monsoon at this time in L.A. mountain area blow from southwest to northeast, and the high temperature make the forest dry then turn into a large number of comburent.
The second picture points out the aspect the influence of fire about river areas. According to the lines of rivers, all the rivers in the fire spread area were the same number as the other area, but the fire spread fast normally. We could find out that if the yield of water is not powerful enough, there was not any help to stop the fire spread. And the vapor of those rivers made the weather of this area worse than before, those vapor took more trouble to firemen to stop the station fire. High temperature water vapor killed the flora and fauna in the fire area, make the number of economic losses larger. And the burning gas mix with the vapor will contribute to acid rain spread to the broader area.
This lab allowed me to use the newly learned GIS skills in this semester and my creativity to create a reference map concerning the County Station Fire. But I am not only tested my knowledge about ArcGIS but also get aware of the extensive damage done by this terrible fire. Through the reference maps of the perimeters, it is noticed the area and direction of this fire well. For my theme, I chose to discuss the rivers area affected by this fire. The discussion of the perimeter shows the influence about rivers in forest fire, and the search the reasons why those rivers could not help to stop the fire spread. It definitely shows the large impact of wildfires on L.A. as well as the usefulness of ArcGIS.

Works Cited

"2009 California wildfires -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 18 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .

Pringle, Paul. "U.S. Forest Service blames steep terrain for Station fire's spread." LA Times 14 Nov 2009: n. pag. Web. 27 Nov 2009. .

Becerra, Hector. "Fire grows to more than 122,000 acres; officials hope for improved conditions." L.A. Now. Los Angeles Times, 1 Sept. 2009. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .

"Fire Weather Danger Terms and Explanations." County of L.A. Fire department. Web. 23 Nov. 2009.

"Spread of Station Fire couldn't have been stopped, feds say - LA Daily News." Los Angeles Daily News. Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 13 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 Nov. 2009. .