Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

The Forest Service has informed us the the Fire Danger Level is now up to FOUR, meaning "Very High"

NEWS RELEASE
USDA Forest Service
Angeles National Forest


Date: August 11, 2008 701 N. Santa Anita Avenue
ANF-17-08 Arcadia, CA 91006
www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles
FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT Contact: Stanton Florea at (626) 574-5208

Fire Danger Level Being Raised on the Angeles National Forest

Arcadia, Calif. – The Fire Danger Level on the Angeles National Forest is being raised from “High� to “Very High,� effective August 13, 2008. The change comes as summer temperatures continue to dry out vegetation and recreational activities continue to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Forest.

Despite the change, there are no new campfire restrictions: Open wood and charcoal fires will still be permitted in developed campgrounds and picnic areas only. Gas and propane powered stoves and grills are permitted in non-developed areas with a valid California Campfire Permit.
Spark arrestors (required year-round) should be checked to make sure they are in good working order on all off-road vehicles, chain saws and other equipment with internal combustion engines. Travelers through the Forest should remain on designated roads and never park on dry brush or grass.

The “Very High� Fire Danger Level is the fourth in a six-level, graduated fire danger rating system. A variety of factors determine the level, including the moisture in vegetation, weather conditions and firefighting equipment needs due to regional and national fire activity.

“Know Before You Go� to the Angeles National Forest. Find out about local conditions at your destination prior to leaving by contacting the following offices:

Forest Supervisor’s Office – Arcadia, (M-F 8:00 am to 4:30 pm) (626) 574-1613
Los Angeles River Ranger District, (M-F 8:00 am to 4:30 pm) (818) 899-1900
San Gabriel River Ranger District, (M-F 8:00 am to 4:30 pm) (626) 335-1251
Santa Clara-Mojave Rivers Ranger District, (M-F 8:00 am to 4:30 pm) (661) 296-9710

Thanks Larry.

Is there anything special to know if we see smoke in the forest while flying: Who to call, etc.?

I often fly late and there is usually nobody on the club frequency, because I always ask for radio check and rarely get a response. If I see smoke, I would hate to land just to call and find out they already know about it. I wish we had the club frequency monitored at the LZ on a speaker for just such communications. There is always someone down there but nobody is listening. I get lonely all specked out.

I will send the District Ranger a link to this post to see if the Forest Service Firefighters are interested in monitoring 147.555.

Hey, Greblo, do you think that L.A. County FD Airborne Ops would be interested in monitoring 147.555. We could tell them that it might be a way for them to get the earliest warning of a fire.

I agree with you that it would be better if someone were always on duty in our club, monitoring 147.555, so that they could call any fire report in to the Forest Service and LA County FD, but who are we going to pay to do that?

I think Windsports monitors 147.555 most of the time they are at work, and would certainly call in any fire report.

Maybe this is something our Arson and Crime Watch should figure out.

Larry

so THAT's what flame job means!