Angeles Crest Highway

Motorcycle down, Angeles Forest Hwy, MM 9, Angeles National Forest. LASD Air Rescue 5 landed on the highway to assist and LASD SEB Tactical Medics treated the rider who was airlifted to the hospital trauma center. https://t.co/1WqYLBfxdq Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

In an effort to provide #wildfire survivors with resources, FEMA’s Mitigation Community Education Outreach Team has partnered with two Home Depot stores in the Antelope Valley to host an information table on Rebuilding After Fires. More info at https://bit.ly/3qEF7w0

Developed campgrounds are temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 surge in Los Angeles County.

Need to know how to install snow chains? Our friends in British Columbia, Canada have this great instructional video on to put snow chains on your vehicle. #SafetyFirst https://youtu.be/oH3rL6tqUj0

Due to the dramatic rise in #COVID19 cases, all of our developed campgrounds will be closing for a minimum of 3 weeks. This closure will be enforceable until Jan. 6th For more information, visit, https://go.usa.gov/x7hD8

The past few days have been a bit of disaster to put it lightly... If you’re coming up to play - Be sure your vehicle is properly equipped and capable of driving in icy conditions. Carry traction devices. See previous post regarding tires. https://www.facebook.com/161411677774/posts/10158183018432775/?d=n... - Fuel up before you head up. - Bring warm clothing and blankets, consider bringing food and water, a shovel and/or other tools in case your vehicle gets stuck. Do not park on ice unless you are equipped to get the vehicle out. - Be prepared for traffic and large crowds! If there is no other parking available off the road, come back another time. DO NOT block roadways, trash bins, driveways and gates. The road is not a parking lot. Heavy Equipment and Emergency Vehicles must have access. Failure to do so will result in a citation, possible towing and/or damage to your vehicle as it may need to be pushed out of the way in an emergency. - Play on public lands, respect private property, and always pack out your trash, broken sled pieces included. - Many higher elevation forest roads have been closed to vehicles due to winter conditions. You may enjoy them for snowshoeing and other human-powered activities. - Recently burned areas and adjacent spots where debris flows could occur will remain closed to all activity. - The #AngelesNF has lowered it's fire danger level to "Very High." That means campfires are only allowed in developed campgrounds in a provided fire ring. Camp stoves are permitted with a CA campfire permit. More info: https://go.usa.gov/xAK6K - Maintain social distancing and wear a mask when near others. Do not gather or travel with people who live outside of your household. On average COVID-19 kills 1 person every 10 minutes in Los Angeles County. Keep your activities as low risk as possible.

Just a friendly reminder about Slow Moving Vehicle Turnouts. From time to time, we all encounter slow moving vehicles on rural roads. These slow vehicles are ...legally allowed on the roadway, but according to California Vehicle Code 21656, the drivers must maintain some common courtesy and allow faster moving vehicles to pass. Though there needs to be five or more vehicles behind the leader to constitute a violation/citation. This law is based on common courtesy and backed by sound logic to address common collisions on two-lane highways... In other words, it is written in blood. If you are driving on a two-lane highway with blind corners in particular and you have a vehicle catch up to you, put on your right turn signal and slow down before you pull into the next available turnout. When in a passing lane, pull to the right and slow down to allow time for traffic to safely pass. There are turnouts located every few corners all along SR-2. Please do not continue driving and ignore the vehicle(s) behind you. Too often they will make an unsafe pass crossing over the double yellow when/if you continually fail to use turnouts. In this case they are absolutely wrong however you are complicit. Your actions lead to their very dangerous reaction... In other words two wrongs don’t make a right. Using the turnout is always the safest decision regardless of speed as increased speed also increases the likelihood of an accident and the potential for a deadly impact etc. Everyone should obey speed limits as they too are written in blood. That being said, we all know not all people obey them. It does not fall on you to attempt to enforce speed limits by blocking traffic. Understand you have no control over the potential recklessness of the driver(s) in your rearview nor do you know how they will react once they’ve been following you for miles. Please leave speeders and reckless drivers to law enforcement. Do your part to avoid contributing to or falling victim of road rage or potentially catastrophic accidents and injury... If not for you, than do it for the unsuspecting person coming in the opposite direction. Finally, and perhaps most importantly. DO NOT attempt to pass other vehicles by crossing the double yellow, it is extremely unsafe. If you find yourself getting frustrated with someone who will not yield. You should use a turnout as they serve multiple purposes. Pull over and take a break, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the ANF, calm down before you continue on your way. Drive/ride safe and sensibly. Section 21656 of the California Vehicle Code: On a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe because of traffic in the opposite direction or other conditions, any vehicle proceeding upon the highway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time, behind which five or more vehicles are formed in line, shall turn off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the authority having jurisdiction over the highway, or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the vehicles following it to proceed.

Reserve Sheriff's Deputies are capable, trained volunteers with the authority and duties of full-time deputy sheriffs. They choose to give their time, skills an...d to risk their safety to help their communities. They have their own paying jobs from all types of work. They are your neighbors and friends. Hometown Heroes Needed. Are you in? https://www.facebook.com/LASDReserveForcesDetail https://lasd.org/careers/reserves/ See more

LOS ANGELES, Calif. A cougar that was rescued after being burned in the Bobcat fire has successfully been released back into the wild after receiving expert me...dical care by the new Wildlife Disaster Network team. Last month the Cougar Conservancy received a call from a resident living in Monrovia, California with concerns about an injured cougar in their backyard. After investigation of the homeowner’s property by the Cougar Conservancy’s Conflict Task Force, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) responded and safely captured the injured cougar. After closer inspection, the female cougar had sustained burns on all four paw pads, likely from the nearby Bobcat Fire, and was transported to CDFW’s Wildlife Investigations Laboratory for treatment. This is the first time that CDFW has rescued, rehabilitated, and released a wild cougar in the state of California. says Korinna Domingo, Founder and Director of the Cougar Conservancy. We are so proud to be part of this historic moment. The Wildlife Disaster Network veterinarians Dr. Peyton of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and CDFW’s Dr. Clifford implemented a suite of burn treatments to heal the cougar’s burned paws, including tilapia skin bandages and infrared laser treatment to the affected tissue. Veterinarians also corrected the cougar’s dehydration and ensured that she was getting adequate nutrition, all whilst controlling her pain through a variety of medications. The reason we are finding that rescuing this one mountain lion is so fulfilling is that she isn’t just one wild animal she is an ambassador. She represents all of the challenges that this species has right now, says Johanna Turner, Advisory Committee Member of the Cougar Conservancy. California has been facing a devastating fire season. Five of the top twenty largest wildfires in California history have occurred in 2020. There are currently no estimates for how many wild animals are injured, displaced, or even killed by wildfires. With the increase in human-caused wildfires, these incidents are only going to become more frequent, and we hope that the Cougar Conservancy can be a resource for both wildlife communities and human communities. says Domingo. --- #MonroviaCougar Your donations help us to prevent conflicts, directly intervene when a cougar's life is on the line, and provide education programs to the public. Please support our work: www.CougarConservancy.org/donate Link to press release: bit.ly/MonroviaCougarReleased

The weather and road conditions we are experiencing here have raised a lot of questions and concerns. I think we should take a moment to discuss tires. Havin...g a vehicle with 4WD or AWD alone does not mean you can safely drive in all conditions. Tires are an important factor on all vehicles. On mountain roads in particular and in the cold, wet, ice and snow your tires are your lifeline as they will insure you keep traction right down to a slow crawl. That’s right you can still slide out of control going 5 miles per hour . Some tires are simply not compatible and dangerous under current road conditions. Here are a few things every driver should do before they head up the mountain. Make sure your tires are inflated to the factory recommended pressures for your vehicle. Check to ensure you have adequate tread life (research tread wear indicators). Make sure your tires are rated for winter/snow, this is indicated on the sidewall of the tire. Mud and Snow (either marked as M+S, M.S or M&S) has been used to indicate winter tires for many years. Some manufacturers simply use a snowflake symbol . The age of your tires are equally important to check. Grip tends to fade on tires over 4 years old as the rubber begins to harden. Every tire has the date it was manufactured on the sidewall. Typically it is a code that starts with DOT and ends with four numbers. Those four numbers are the date starting with the week and ending with the year of manufacture. Summer tires and Mud Terrain (MT) are typically not rated for snow and MT tires can be especially deceptive as the tread looks very aggressive giving the impression that they would do fine under all conditions however they can be some of the most dangerous in the snow. It doesn’t take much to enter an uncontrollable slide while on incorrect or old tires. In addition to proper tires you should carry chains in the vehicle just in case... If you don’t meet this criteria stay below the snow line.

370 feet over the side is not too far for our team to rescue an injured person in need. Today the LASD Montrose Search and Rescue Team was activated to rescue t...wo men 370 feet over the side of Angeles Crest Highway in the Angeles National Forest. Power lines above the victims prevented a helicopter hoist. One patient did not need much help, but the other was in critical condition. LASD Air 5 helicopter crew landed nearby after lowering two deputy sheriff medics as close as they could get to the site. The deputy pilots did some amazing flying under difficult conditions. The patient in critical condition was brought up on the rescue team’s winch cable with two Air 5 medics and a Montrose SAR team member. The terrain was a nightmare with overhanging and crumbling rocks combined with heavy brush. Fantastic teamwork between the Sheriff’s rescue team, Los Angeles County Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service. So that others may live. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department See more

LASD Air Rescue 5 on scene of a vehicle over the side, deploying LASD Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) deputy sheriff Tactical Medics, Angeles Crest Highway, MM 32, Angeles National Forest. https://t.co/9JHPmtaFh9 Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

Are you interested in #volunteering for the #AngelesNF? We'd love to have your help. Right now, our volunteer groups are accepting applications. Due to #COVID19..., we might not be able to get you out as quickly as you'd like, but we'll get you out there as soon as we're able. https://go.usa.gov/x7HwA See more

IS DISPERSED CAMPING ALLOWED? No. Camping outside of developed campsites or USFS campgrounds is currently not allowed for public and fire safety. The Fire Danger on the ANF remains EXTREME. This is a temporary prohibition, effective through Dec.1, 2020. https://go.usa.gov/x7rJt

Over the last couple of days, crews were successful in bringing containment of the #BobcatFire to 95%. Please use caution when traveling in the Mt. Wilson area as your firefighters are still working to repair and mop-up in that area.

The first permanent instrument at the Mt. Wilson Observatory is the Snow Solar Telescope. It was brought to the mountain "on loan" from Yerkes Observatory by Ge...orge E. Hale who founded both institutions. It has been in service since 1905 and has accumulated rust and many coats of paint. With assistance from the Ludwick Family Foundation, much of the wooden supporting structure has been replaced. Our mountain staff stripped an uncountable number of paint coats down to white metal. and have just applied the primer coat. We will revisit this work in progress. See more

Over the coming months, the #BobcatFire Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team will ensure that sites like Little Jimmy Trail Camp will be "setup" for succe...ssful restoration. They'll accomplish this through removal of hazard trees (eventually planting some) and decreasing the potential for erosion. Learn more about what a BAER does at https://go.usa.gov/x7CyC

NO PEDESTRIANS, BICYCLES OR MOTOR DRIVEN CYCLES or horses, mules, skateboards, rollerblades, pogo sticks, imperial walkers etc. beyond the gates. If an open trail you want to hike is beyond the gate, that trailhead is temporarily closed for as long as the road is closed. (Photo: gate near Upper Big Tujunga Rd. on SR-2)

With all of the surrounding devastation in the forest, the Observatory is becoming something of refuge for the displaced, including our most recent ursid addition, "Apple Cider".

Due to the Extreme Fire Danger Level, no fires, including camp stoves, are permitted anywhere in the national forest. Additionally, dispersed camping is prohibited until Dec.1st. For more info regarding closures and fire use restrictions, please visit: https://go.usa.gov/x73C5

Late on Tuesday night, our team received a call for service regarding a dog who was over the side of a cliff. We responded to Angeles Crest Highway near mile m...arker 28.06 and found a chihuahua who was stuck on the side of the mountain. The dog had escaped the owner's car and ran over the side. Our team members went 100 feet over and were able to bring the dog to safety. #LASD

#BobcatFire Firefighters are still actively engaged in the Mt. Wilson area and smoke may be seen from the Juniper Hills, Little Rock, and Valyermo communities. Please do not call 9-1-1. We are actively patrolling and mopping up across the fire perimeter.

#BobcatFire Overnight, there was minimal fire activity and we saw no change in acreage or containment. Single trees inside the interior torched near Mt. Wilson. Today, helicopters will be working in the area to continue putting out hotspots.

These USFS roads, trails and their respective campgrounds and picnic areas or any sections controlled by the USFS will be CLOSED until April of 2022 as part of the forest recovery effort.

Last night we looked outside and one of the trees that burned 2.5 weeks ago was burning and sending embers on the breeze! We called 911 and USFS came and put i...t out with water (it was too high for us to reach). Today they came back to cut down the tree. Who knew a tree could be sneaky burning for weeks! See more

Photos documenting the Bobcat Fire from various photographers, dates and locations. Photo Credits: Mt. Wilson Observatory Staff... Los Angeles County Fire - Air Operations CalTrans D7 & D8 Getty Images Ryan Babroff SoCal Fire Photo Tyler Kelleher TK Photo Leatherman Photo ryanwinner_6068 southerncaliforniafirenetwork.com FirePhotoGirl.com @FirePhotoGirl David Joseph Photo @djephoto24 Austin's Photography @austinsphoto Cindy Wu @offdutyeyedoc @serpa_photo Todd McCraw Jonathan Merager (Firefighter) Aldo D'Auria Ryan Cullom @RyanCullomPhotography Greg Dohlen and many more.