Forest Lawn Scout Reservation and Wild Fire updates

  

October 31, 2007 - 4:00pm

 

Los Angeles Area Council administration made a site visit to Forest Lawn Scout Reservation yesterday, October 30, 2007 to find camp in good condition with much fire protection still in place.  This visit took place after "mandatory evacuation" had been replaced with "voluntary evacuation."  Our camp ranger Frank returned to camp Sunday evening to join camp ranger Chris with security patrols and supporting the firefighters in camp.

 

Our visual inspection found the camp facilities to have had no damage with the exception of one old, wooden restroom in Camp Pepperdine. It had minor burn damage to the backside and to part of the floor. All utilities are functioning, which allowed us to provide the water needed to the firefighters (so they didn't have to leave camp to get water) to protect us.

 

The firefighters that we met in camp are "mopping up" hot spots to protect us against the  winds that are forecast for this weekend.  They were all outstanding men and women that are very dedicated to protecting our property and preserving it for our youth programs.  The following photo gallery is dedicated to all of these firefighters that we are so grateful for:

 

Click Here

To view the slide show
 

October 26, 2007 - 9:20am

  • Thanks to God and your prayers we have lost no structures yet
  • During the night 5 hand crews have arrived and have worked throughout the night in the camp
  • "A whole bunch of equipment has been brought in". (There are currently 10 engines and 2 dozers at work)
  • A fire break and an additional line has been established around Pepperdine
  • For Big Horn they have burned off (back fire) heavy fuel from the staff cabins to the lower end of Big Horn.  This is going towards Deep Creek and Sheep Creek in order to turn away fire coming from there.
  • They are getting ready to change crews
  • The current plan is to put more firebreaks or hand lines between HWY 18 and Pepperdine which will be the focus today
     
"They are planning an all out priority on the Boy Scout Camp this morning with tankers dropping water and retardant. This will be a big help for the Arrowhead area. Tanker pilot talking to MSNBC helio asked them to tell everyone they were using the tankers. They said that CNN really trashed the tankers last night saying they were not being used."  (9:18am Incident Report from Rim Of The World Website)
  • The Edison Patrol of their power lines have indicated they have found our problem and said that it is an "easy fix".  (Since starting this update, we have been informed that power has been restored to camp)
  • Chris is getting low on gas in camp for his vehicles and can not get any on the mountain, due to everything being closed. 

At this point in time, Chris feels that we won't have any structural damage unless the weather makes a drastic change.
 

October 25, 2007 - 4:00pm

 

Currently the fire is inside FLSR and at this point the fire is in Pepperdine and on the edge of Circle X - Big Horn (near the old corral).  The fire in camp is a ground fire.  Two fire engines and crews are in the camp.  The weather is improving and calm at this time.  There is no confirmation that we have lost any structures in camp.

 

However, due to the irregularity of this fire more fire fighting resources are needed.  Please help community and government resources know of their need to help us not loose our camp facilities by participating immediately in the following e-mail campaign:

 
Our Scout reservation is currently at risk to loss due to the fire again, but can be saved if we receive enough fire fighting resources today.  Please email today the following political leaders and ask them to direct fire fighting support to save our camp!   If we get enough air and engine support today, we will survive this fire.

 

Please send this email to the following politicians:

 

1.   Congressman Lewis, the Congressman from the local area   -

http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newmemberbio.cgi?lang=&member=CA41&site=congressmerge

To contact Congressman Lewis please use the Forest Lawn Scout Reservation address and phone number - 29485 Hook Creek Road, Cedar Glen, CA  92321 - 909/337-9173. 

 

2.   Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger -

http://gov.ca.gov/interact#contact

 

3.   President George Bush

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

 

Please save our Boy Scout Camp on Hook Creek Road in Cedar Glen that we have invested 17 million dollars in the past several years.   This is to replace the loss we had from the  'old fire'   in October 2003.  We need our camp for our youth.  It serves thousands of mostly urban youth from Los Angeles and the surrounding communities.  We need your help.

 

Thank you for thinking of our youth. 

  
 

October 24, 2007 - 10:30am

 

Curtis King, the Tree Cutter we employ around our camp, drove through our camp this morning and reported that Circle X and Camp Pollock are still fire free, but full of smoke.  The fire is on the ridge line above the camp.  Our biggest risk is for Camp Pepperdine.  The winds are dying down, and the weather is improving. Prayers are still needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

October 23, 2007 - 1:00pm

 

We are keeping close watch on the Grass Valley and Slide fires near Lake Arrowhead.

Slide Fire:

Mandatory evacuations are in place at Green Valley Lake, Arrowbear and Running Springs.
As of 7:30 a.m. this morning 4,000 acres have burned. About 125 houses are lost, about 100 of those burned last in Running Springs while the fire was very active. The fire has crossed Highway 18 on the west side of Running Springs. It has also crossed Highway 330 by Fredalba and Smiley Park. Firefighters are actively protecting the Fredalba and Smiley Park areas. The fire is making a run at Green Valley, but firefighters are unable to reach the area due to unsafe conditions. Six water tender trucks that supply water for firefighters are being used with 22 fire engines to fight the fire.

Grass Valley fire:

Mandatory evacuations are in place north of Highway 189 and north of Lake Arrowhead Dam at Highway 173. Mandatory evacuations are also in place in Twin Peaks, Bluejay, Crestline and Lake Gregory. Voluntary evacuations are in place for the rest of Lake Arrowhead as well as Cedar Glenn, Cedar Pines Park and The Valley of Enchantment.

Our Rangers are now under mandatory evacuation. Yesterday was voluntary and they spent the night in Cedar Glen. They went back into camp today to check on the camp. The Slide Fire is now at Deep Creek which is just the next canyon east of both Pepperdine and Circle X.  With our Rangers now gone, it will be difficult to report on the condition of the camp. We will up date this site as new information is received.