This map shows the risk from wildfire to buildings in North Monrovia. The scale is from red (high risk) down to blue (low risk). The red circles are the Bobcat Fire. No real surprise here but interesting. Here's the source: https://is.gd/5crvNW
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
The fire is now about .6 of a mile from the Trask Boy Scout Camp and about 1.3 miles north of Canyon Park.
When air visibility allows, air support will be provided. Otherwise, firefighting efforts will be on the ground.
If you have questions regarding the Bobcat Fire, you can call 256-8246 if you can't find the information you need on the city’s website.
Monrovia Canyon Park and the Hillside Wilderness Preserve will remain closed until further notice and because of bad air the Friday Night Street Fair is cancelled tonight.
Source: https://is.gd/j4Npxs
- Brad Haugaard
The checkpoint was held on Myrtle Avenue, south of Duarte Road, from 7 p.m. to midnight.
Checkpoints are hosted on days of the week at specific locations based on a history of crashes and DUI arrests in the area.
The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring motorists from driving impaired, and deterring their friends and family from allowing someone to drive impaired.
As businesses continue to reopen, including bars and restaurants, impaired driving remains a top traffic safety concern. The Monrovia Police Department will hold another DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Saturday night, September 26.
Source: Monrovia Police press release
- Brad Haugaard
He said firefighting crews have built defensive lines on the western and southern edges of the fire, located directly above Monrovia. "I just returned from Monrovia Canyon Park and Trask Boy Scout Camp," he said. "Needless to say for this city manager...watching wildfire burn is incredibly unnerving. It is slowly making its way downhill and there are dozens, if not hundreds, of firefighters working tirelessly to prepare. They want the fire to come to them where they are ready to engage."
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
Got lunch today from La Noria, formerly Los Victors, a Mexican food stand at the corner of Foothill and May. I got two mini chicken tacos for 99 cents each. They came with a pepper (very hot) and some nice crisp chips. Good tacos and very good price. 
"Overnight, the Bobcat Fire continues to grow, moving in a northeasterly direction but is also slowly burning towards the west. As the foothill area above Monrovia has not seen a fire in over 60 years, residents will notice that at certain times the fire will be more visible, especially when brush catches fire for the first time in 60 years or more. The fire will continue to be visible from the City with plumes of smoke during the day. Firefighting crews have spent considerable time building defensive lines on the western and southern edges of the fire. Now, efforts are being focused on the east and northeastern edges of the fire. The goal is to keep the fire from jumping Highway 39.
"Please note...the fire is burning at a high elevation, with fuels that historically have not burned, and is surrounded by defensible space, dozer lines, and even recently burned areas from fires in the past 3-4 years. The area will likely burn for several weeks until it is fully extinguished by crews."
- Brad Haugaard
Great photos courtesy of Sam Kurutz.
City Manager Dylan Feik reports that "two air tankers were able to make several drops of fire retardant (which we call "Phos-Chek" and is pronounced "fozz-check") on the southwest portion of the fire, which is right above Monrovia, to reinforce and strengthen previously applied fire lines. Additionally, several more resources arrived at the fire late in the day, including a sky crane helicopter and two more hotshot crews."
"Overnight, fire personnel will continue to monitor the fire's behavior and growth. One important term I learned today is that we have planned for a wind-driven fire, but we are observing a terrain-driven fire. For example, last night, the Santa Ana winds were forecast to push the fire southwest toward Monrovia. The fire moved east and northeast. As we wrap up the Red Flag Warning which ended at 8:00 p.m. this evening, winds are forecast to begin blowing northward which is a positive for us."
- Brad Haugaard
Many thanks to Shane Nichols for sharing these photographs of a jet dropping red fire retardant along a firebreak in the mountains above Monrovia. The plane is flying downhill.
Planes are now dumping fire retardant on the south face of the Bobcat Fire. I have observed propeller and jet aircraft, and an LA County Fire helicopter. 
Throughout the night, the fire slowly burned on Rankin Peak. It moved south a bit but also east and north from the foothill communities of Monrovia, Arcadia and Duarte. The San Gabriel region continues to be on high alert for Santa Ana winds since noon yesterday and the red flag warning will continue to 8 p.m. tonight. By late tonight, the weather forecast is that wind will push north in our favor. That is a good thing.
We want to remind everyone that fire can spread quickly and residents should be cognizant that the fire will continue to burn throughout the day and large plumes of smoke will be visible from across the region.
If conditions are good, flyovers will occur regularly to assess the situation. Fixed wing aircraft will engage the fire and perform fire extinguishing procedures including laying down fire retardant.
- Brad Haugaard
I understand that large swaths of brush above Monrovia haven't burned since 1957. That's an awful lot of dry brush, and if it doesn't burn now it'll burn later, and more intensely because there'll be even more of it. I understand that if it burns too hot it destroys the plants and their seeds.
What could we do about that? Well, there are controlled burns, but I'm sure they are very expensive and there is always the possibility they will get out of control and we could cause the disaster we want to prevent.
Here's another idea. I was talking with City Historian Steve Baker about the fire and he mentioned that long ago goats were used to control the underbrush. Add goats, they eat underbrush, and the amount of fuel is reduced. Then round up the fat goats and send them off elsewhere.
He said this was stopped for environmental reasons, but I imagine things have changed since then and perhaps now the environmental concerns can be more effectively addressed.
I'm no expert on goats and underbrush and fires but it seems goats should at least be considered. And if not goats then something else, because the more the brush builds up the bigger a disaster it could be in the future.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
"Lastly, the Monrovia Community Center will continue to be an Information Center, taking calls overnight for residents seeking information. Residents can contact the Monrovia Community Center at 256-8246, anytime."
- Brad Haugaard
