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Historic Observatory Threatened By Calif. Wildfire

For decades, the Mount Wilson Observatory was the center of the cosmos for astronomical researchers. Now it's the focal point for Southern California firefighters, as they wear back a fire that has devoured nearly 122,000 acres and threatens to commit mayhem 100 years of history.

On Wednesday, more than 3,655 firefighters and other workers pulled out the stops to keep the so-called Place Fire from advancing up the mountain where the observatory and 22 communications towers are located.

"They are placing a lot of resources up there to try to taboo it from getting to Mount Wilson because of the communications towers and the observatory," said Gabriel Alvarez, fire advice officer for the U.S. Forest Service.

By air and on the ground, fire crews worked throughout the day to physique a fire line that would cut off the wildfire's fuel source and halt the flame fire. Fire crews manned bulldozers to cut through the tangle of brush and trees on the 5,700-foot sink, while aerial crews sprayed vegetation with fire retardant spume to keep it from being ignited by sparks whipped up by winds of up to 30 mph.

Source: NPR

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