Comments on: Palomar Observatory at risk from fires?

By: Luisa

Luisa — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:10:33 +0000

two posted stories, the second with a dramatic photo:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20071025-9999-1n25palomar.html
http://tech.caltech.edu/Tech2.0/10_22_2007/article32.html

By: Nick Greene

Nick Greene — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:55:48 +0000

I do not currently have the solid news you are looking for, however, I’m flying out to visit Camp Pendleton next week. I had hoped for a visit to Palomar during this trip, but I’ll have to see how things go. However, if I can, I’ll try to get as much info as possible.

By: Laatste nieuws rond Mount Palomar at Astroblogs

Laatste nieuws rond Mount Palomar at Astroblogs — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:05:29 +0000

[...] # Howie Modellon 24 Oct 2007 at 10:52 am: (…)Â Â Last reported location: Burned south of Highway 76, burned through the Rincon Indian Reservation, then jumped I-15 westward in Del Dios area. As of 4:30 p.m., threatened Mt. Palomar observatory, one of the worldâ€™s largest telescopes. As of 7 p.m., headed westward from Palomar Mountain. [...]

By: Luisa

Luisa — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 05:03:29 +0000

here’s what i heard today from colleagues (including those unable to observe last night and tonite):
the observatory’s been closed for observations for several nights. they cut the power to the mountain, so the generator is powering essential equipment. all non-essential personnel have been evacuated. one observatory staffer has lost their house, but no other staff injuries or building losses that i know of (another observatory staffer watched the fire approach and then recede from his neighborhood). the latest information i can get on google maps (including a nice overlay of data from a plane looking at ground temperatures) implies the fire is more under control than it was before: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http:%2F%2Fwww.fireimaging.com%2Ffires%2F2007%2Fcalifornia%2Fpoomacha%2F296%2Fdoc.kml&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=12

By: Concerned

Concerned — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:04:10 +0000

Email this morning from a friend who lives on the mountain and was evacuated yesterday.

6 A.M. â€“ 10-24-07 from Palomar Mt. Vol Fire Dept

The fire on Palomar Mountain Continues to be dangerous and out of control.

Yesterday we did hold the fire fire from jumping State Park Road by pre-treating the roadway (edges) with foam and back firing the road edges.

But we continue to be at the mercy of the wind and low humidity.

The fire is nearing the Palomar Christian Conference Center and the 6th Grade School.

The fire has burned up the entire South Grade and jumped East grade into Crestline.

The Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department continues to around the clock with the Forest Service and Cal-Fire to control this fire.

This continues to be a dangerous and out of control fire on Palomar Mountain.

Do not attempt to return to the mountain as the falling trees and rocks along with fast moving firestorms continue to occur without warning.

George E. Lucia Sr.
Fire Chief
Palomar Mountain Fire Department

By: Larry

Larry — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 21:14:01 +0000

I live in Solana Beach in north county San Diego. Here’s the latest from http://www.signonsandiego.com/

House-to-house battle on Palomar
Posted @ 12:35 PM
Firefighters are waging a house-to-house battle on top of Palomar Mountain to save structures on Crestline Drive, where most of its residents live.
As flames approach houses and cabins, fire crew rush in to put them out. Wind conditions are moderate now, and so far the strategy has succeeded in preventing a major property damage. Fire officials, however, say increased winds would make the effort impossible.
Palomar has about 300 permanent and temporary residences.
Fires are also burning in Palomar State Park, a popular campground, although the extend of the damage there was uncertain. South Grade Road, one of two routes up the mountain, is littered with downed and still-burning trees and branches.
Several homes have been destroyed near the bottom of South Grade, where the fire began climbing the mountain yesterday afternoon. The flames on the mountain are from the Poomacha fire, which began as a house fire on the La Jolla Indian reservation.

– J. Harry Jones

By: att wireless » Palomar Observatory at risk from fires?

att wireless » Palomar Observatory at risk from fires? — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 18:18:38 +0000

[...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptNews reports from a few hours ago indicate that some of the people evacuated from the fires near San Diego are being housed at the observatory, but a BABloggee just emailed me saying that the observatory itself has been evacuated. … [...]