The Eaton Fire, which started in the hills northeast of Los Angeles, flared up Thursday morning near Mount Wilson.
Rising above the San Gabriel Valley, this mountain is home to communications towers and equipment near Los Angeles, as well as the historic Mount Wilson Observatory.
There were no homes nearby, but flames could be seen near buildings such as the tower at the top of the mountain. Red flame retardant lines were visible near the building.
Although winds were light in the area, the steep slopes were covered in thick brush, providing fuel for the fire. The road to the top is winding and narrow, making it difficult for fire trucks and crews to reach the area.
Conan Nolan explains the historical significance of Mount Wilson in Los Angeles.
The observatory at the top was founded in 1904 by George Ellery Hale. Its construction was an extraordinary engineering feat, making the observatory one of the world’s premier astronomical research facilities, with the world’s largest telescope.
In September 2020, the 41,700-acre Bobcat Fire burned within 500 feet of the observatory. It was closed at the time due to the pandemic and staff had been evacuated. Backfires were installed to clear dry vegetation from the area, providing defensible space for firefighters to protect the summit.
The Eaton Fire, which started near the foothills community of Altadena, also prompted evacuation orders in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles after the fire broke out Tuesday evening. Five deaths were reported in the 10,600-acre fire that destroyed homes and businesses.
Among the structures destroyed in the fire was the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center. The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation reported that the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, the Davis Community Center at Farnsworth Park, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Altadena Golf Course clubhouse and adjacent buildings were destroyed.
The fire is one of five wildfires burning in Los Angeles County on Thursday.
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