Crews Continue to Protect Mt. Wilson From Active Flames on Bobcat Fire’s Southwestern Front

Fire crews worked throughout Wednesday night continuing to protect the Mount Wilson Observatory and nearby broadcast towers valued at more than $1 billion from the nearby flames of the 46,263-acre Bobcat Fire.

Back fires set throughout the day Tuesday near the observatory were effective in decreasing the intensity and spread of the flames, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

As dusk fell, Observatory officials tweeted “the #BobcatFire is still on our back. We thought we might have it down, but…… The more active area appears to be moving northward.”

“The area around Mount Wilson and the southwestern edge of the fire remains active where crews continue to protect the Mount Wilson Observatory infrastructure,” fire officials said Wednesday night.

Observatory personnel were evacuated. Mount Wilson is not only one of the crown jewels of astronomy but also home to infrastructure that transmits cell phone signals and television and radio broadcasts for the greater Los Angeles Area.

In the foothills, evacuation orders were lifted Wednesday for residents north of Elkins Avenue and east of Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia and portions of Sierra Madre.

Residents were able to return to their homes at 4 p.m.

“Welcome home Arcadia,” the Arcadia Fire Department tweeted Wednesday evening. “Continue to be vigilant and stay alert as Arcadia remains in an evacuation warning status should fire conditions change.

Pasadena officials continue to tell residents there is no danger imminent from the fire, which is now mostly heading away from the city, but say foothill neighborhoods should remain vigilant and prepared in case winds push the fire south.

Although Pasadena is still smoky, the health conditions have improved over the past 24 hours.

Pasadena City College announced it will reopen for students today, with COVID-19 precautions.

Pasadena Unified School District said that its LEARNS supervised care programs at all school campuses are canceled through Friday, September 18.

Pasadena Unified Grab & Go Food Centers, however,  will be open from 9-11 a.m. at John Muir High School, Field Elementary, Norma Coombs, Madison Elementary, McKinley School, and Wilson Middle School.

As the fire moved north, an evacuation warning was in effect Thursday morning for residents in a portion of the southeast Antelope Valley.

Juniper Hills residents south of Fort Trejon Road and east of 96th Street, as well as east and south of Valyermo Road and west of Bob’s Gap Road, were told to pack and prepare to evacuate Wednesday night.

At the north end of the fire, the focus was to try to contain the spot fires across Highway 2 after a 500- to 1,000-acre spot fire crossed the highway Tuesday. Air tankers were ordered Wednesday morning to help contain the spot fire in the Cooper Canyon area.

The east side of the fire remained quiet.

Full containment of the fire, which will be achieved by way of cleared vegetation, was not estimated until Oct. 30, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Officials had earlier estimated full containment by Oct. 15 but revised that date on Sunday.

A closure order for all National Forests in Southern California was extended to Monday.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended its smoke advisory through Thursday with most of its jurisdiction experiencing smoke impacts.

The Bobcat Fire erupted on Sept. 6 near the Cogswell Dam and West Fork Day Use area northeast of Mount Wilson and within the Angeles National Forest. The cause remains under investigation.