Fire Threatens Avalon

For those of you who aren't familiar with Southern California, 26 miles across the sea (as the song goes) is Catalina Island. The main town on the island is Avalon, and the city is being threatened by a wildfire:

A wind-driven wildfire scorched more than 500 acres on the getaway spot of Santa Catalina Island on Thursday, forcing evacuations just as firefighters were mopping up a blaze at another Southern California playground, Los Angeles' sprawling Griffith Park.

Officials evacuated residents from hilltop homes on the island's city of Avalon toward the beach, said Los Angeles County fire Capt. Ron Haralson.

Smoke darkened the sky over Avalon's quaint crescent harbor, the landmark 1929 Catalina Casino and homes, restaurants and tiny hotels that cling to slopes rising sharply above the waterfront. The smoke could be seen from the mainland.

I've made a few trips over there, including flying to the island's Airport in the Sky on several occassions (the runway is cut out of the top of a hill, isn't completely level, and has a sheer drop off on both ends...kind of exciting to fly in and out of there). The town is beautiful and most residents get around in golf carts. In fact, you can rent carts and tour Avalon in about an hour or so.

When I first started in the church insurance business I had a church over there that wanted a quote and spent a very nice day on the island taking care of the business, though it meant two 90 minute ferry rides back and forth to Long Beach.

Fighting a wildfire over there has got to be tough given that much of the attack will have to be from the air. I hope they can keep the fire out the town - it's a really special place.

UPDATE: The US Navy has entered the fight by using their giant LCAC hovercraft to transport fire engines and fire personnel from their base at Camp Pendleton over to the island. It's probably a 45 mile cruise from their base, but they've been making trips all night as LA County struggles to get fire fighting assets to the island. So far only a couple of buildings have been lost, and the issue for the city of Avalon is still very much in doubt.