When the hills of los angeles are burning,

Palm trees are candles in the murder wind
-Bad Religion-


So the hills around Los Angeles really are burning. This fire started at about 1:30 pm and is suspected to be the result of arson. At the time of my writing this, no one has been seriously injured, and no structures were damaged. There is apparently one "person of interest" being questioned. Some sources are saying that the person of interest is a minor that was setting off fireworks near the origin of the fire. As of 10:30 pm reports are varied but it is estimated that there are anywhere from 300 to 500 acres already burned.


The fire was starting to die down until about sunset, when the shifting winds caused the flames to flare back up. Some are calling this the worst fire in Griffith Park since the 60's. Reports are coming in that the fire is 30% contained, but no-one really knows right now.

About 2,000 homes lost power. Evacuations are happening.

I was hiking with my dog tonight and got to take this picture. It is from Runyon Canyon looking towards the Griffith Park Observatory.


When I got home and jumped on Flickr, I got to see that I was not the only one to get a different perspective of this inferno.

What an amazing world we live in that we can share pictures from our part of the world so instantly!! I think this blog should (at least at times) be as relevant as possible. I don't expect it will turn into a "news-blog", (not my calling!). But when something this big happens, it seems worthwhile to document the happenings. And what better way to do so than with pictures contibuted by other locals!

Tonights topic: Top Ten Pictures of "The May 8th, 2007 Griffith Park Fire"

Griffith Park Fire
by http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericcastro/
Fire Griffith Park
by melisslissliss Fire in Griffith Park on 05.08.07
by elinafilm Griffith Park Fire
by kevin keefer Griffith Park Fire 03
by eat more fruits & veggies
Griffith Park Fire
by artindeepkoma
Griffith Park Fire
by kenbasart
GP Fire #3
by grendelfever

Griffith Park Fire 1
by mike fischer

Griffith Park Fire (35)

by Mad Science
This is a very scary situation for a lot of people. The roads in and out of the area are small and windy and there are a lot of homes that need to be evacuated. It is good news that at this time, no one has been hurt and emergency personel are handling the situation very well.

Thanks to everyone out here in LA that rushed out to get a picture of the inferno. This is an impressively frightening situation. I could update this all night, but I have to go to bed. I am sure that you can update yourself online and if you live in this area, it is all over the news. I will try to updat this post when the fire is over (for the sake of acuracy).

"Los Angeles Is Burning"

Somewhere high in the desert near a curtain of a blue
St. Anne's skirts are billowing
But down here in the city of the lime lights
The fans of santa ana are withering
And you can’t deny that living is easy
If you never look behind the scenery
It's showtime for dry climes
And bedlam is dreaming of rain

When the hills of los angeles are burning
Palm trees are candles in the murder wind
So many lives are on the breeze
Even the stars are ill at ease
And los angeles is burning

This is not a test Of the emergency broadcast system
Where malibu fires and radio towers
Conspire to dance again
And I cannot believe the media Mecca
They're only trying to peddle reality,
Catch it on prime time, story at nine
The whole world is going insane

When the hills of los angeles are burning
Palm trees are candles in the murder wind
So many lives are on the breeze
Even the stars are ill at ease
And los angeles is burning

A placard reads
"the end of days"
Jacaranda boughs are bending in the haze

More a question than a curse
How could hell be any worse?

The flames are stunning
The cameras running
So take warning

When the hills of los angeles are burnin
Palm trees are candles in the murder wind
So many lives are on the breeze
Even the stars are ill at ease
And los angeles is burning

-Bad Religion-

Links
BrooWaHa early report

Reuters

LA Times

It doesn't seem appropriate to say "enjoi" tonight, so I will just say thank you again everyone.

Good Night

Update (11.30pm) Parts of the fire have been knocked down, containment is still hard to tell, but is estimated at 25%. Most of the fire is being fought with helicopters. The video coming in on the news looks devestating. Night fall normally helps with lower temperatures, higher humidity, and less wind. However, tonight, none of those conditions took place. The fire actually got worse as it got later. Latest reports say that about 600 acres have burned.

Person of interest is a man with bad burns in the hospital. Some think that he started the fire, others that he was simply trying to help. Guesses at this time for who started the fire range from minors lighting fireworks to a homeless man passed out with a cigarette.

Now I am really going to bed!

Update (8:00am) 600 acres have burned, fire is about 40% contained.