Curve Fire Explained

Curve Fire
Area:20857acres
Coordinates:34.26°N -117.84°W
Pushpin Map:USA California
Pushpin Map Alt:Refer to caption
Pushpin Map Caption:The general location of the Curve Fire in Southern California
Injuries:14
Buildings:73
Evacuated:~8,000 people
Cause:Candles associated with a Santería ritual

The Curve Fire was a destructive wildfire in the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County, California, in September of 2002. The fire, which ignited on September 1 from candles associated with a Santería ritual, grew to 20857acres before it was declared fully contained on September 5. The Curve Fire destroyed 73 structures, forced the temporary closure of several highways over the Labor Day weekend, and caused multiple injuries.

Background

The Curve Fire was the seventh largest of the 2002 California wildfire season, in which 8,171 wildfires burned a total of 538216acres.[1] [2] Antecedent hot, dry weather helped drive the fire.[3]

Progression

The Curve Fire ignited on Sunday, September 1 by California State Route 39, near Rincon Canyon and about 1abbr=outNaNabbr=out north of East Fork Ridge,[4] in the Bichota Mesa area.[5]

The fire began at roughly 12:30–12:45 p.m. PDT and crossed Highway 39 north of East Fork Road while moving north, burning past the Crystal Lake Recreation Area.[6] The fire spread north on both the eastern and western sides of Highway 39.[7] By 5:00 p.m. the fire had burned about 10000acres and about 500 firefighters were on the scene.[8] Two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies drove through flames to reach a woman in her cabin near Soldier's Creek who, unable to escape, had planned to commit suicide before the fire reached her and informed her ex-husband via phone call.[9]

On Wednesday, September 4, the fire moved beneath—and threatened—major electrical transmission lines connecting Southern California to its northern counterpart. The California Independent System Operator reduced the power flowing through the lines so as to decrease the risk of systemic disruptions should one or more lines fail. By that evening the fire had burned more than 16000acres with 15 percent containment. These figures both increased during the remainder of the week: by nightfall on Saturday, September 7, the burned area had grown to 18776acres and containment had reached 52 percent.

Cause

Investigators originally suspected that a lightning strike had touched off the fire, later changing their assessment after surveying the area. On September 6 the U.S. Forest Service announced that the fire had been caused by "candles associated with a ritual involving the use of fire and animal sacrifices". The nocturnal sacrifice, specifically that of a goat, was in keeping with the local practice of Santería, an imported African diasporic religion from Cuba. In Santería animal sacrifices are sometimes made in a forest, considered a sacred place, and law enforcement had encountered the remnants—including leftover votive candles—of similar rituals elsewhere in the Angeles National Forest.[10] [11]

Effects

The Curve Fire caused fourteen injuries[12] and destroyed 73 structures. One of these was the South Mount Hawkins fire lookout in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness, and another was the unoccupied Coldbrook Ranger Station. Most of the remainder were special use cabins, outbuildings, and Forest Service buildings in San Gabriel Canyon.

About 8,000 people, largely campers, were forced to evacuate the Angeles National Forest. Some families and other groups were separated during the rapid evacuations. The fire forced the temporary closure of both California State Route 39 and the Angeles Crest Highway, fouling Labor Day travel plans for many.[13] Smoke impacted communities in the Victor Valley, forestalling recreational activities.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: February 11, 2003 . 2002 Large Fires . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171208215137/http://www.fire.ca.gov/fire_protection/downloads/LF2002.pdf . December 8, 2017 . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
  2. Web site: August 24, 2020 . California Wildfires and Acres for all Jurisdictions . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240409053051/https://34c031f8-c9fd-4018-8c5a-4159cdff6b0d-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/calfire-website/our-impact/fire-statistics/ca-wildfires-and-acres-for-all-jurisdictions.pdf?rev=0b3842a0f4fe4874978e716d3cfd670d&hash=3FA937C2E9F12591470567F5F7B4EEE1 . April 9, 2024 . April 9, 2024 . California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).
  3. News: Fields . Robin . September 2, 2002 . Contributions by David Pierson . Campers Flee Fire in Azusa Canyon . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240410035124/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-02-me-azusa2-story.html . April 10, 2024 . April 11, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.
  4. News: September 8, 2002 . Curve Fire More Than Half Contained . https://web.archive.org/web/20240410035136/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-08-me-briefs8.1-story.html . April 10, 2024 . April 11, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.
  5. News: Vogel . Nancy . Malnic . Eric . September 5, 2002 . 2 New Blazes Cut Road, Rail Links . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516162639/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-2-new-blazes-cut/147500252/ . May 16, 2024 . May 16, 2024 . . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: September 2, 2002 . Fires force evacuations . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240415185709/https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-maria-times-fires-force-evacuatio/145424353/ . April 15, 2024 . April 15, 2024 . . A5 . . Associated Press.
  7. News: September 2, 2002 . 8,000 flee forest blaze near L.A. . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240415191517/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-8000-flee-forest-blaze/145425612/ . April 15, 2024 . April 15, 2024 . . B3 . . Associated Press.
  8. News: Muzslay . Leigh . September 2, 2002 . Victor Valley chokes on fallen ash: 10,000-acre San Gabriel fire blamed for 'ugly' conditions . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240415190721/https://www.newspapers.com/article/press-dispatch-victor-valley-chokes-on/145424773/ . April 15, 2024 . April 15, 2024 . Press Dispatch . A1, A6 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: Garrison . Jessica . Malnic . Eric . September 5, 2002 . Blazes Disrupt Road, Rail Traffic . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516164859/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-blazes-disrupt-ro/147501149/ . May 16, 2024 . May 16, 2024 . . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: Anderson . Hil . September 6, 2002 . Biscuit done: Largest US fire contained . live . https://archive.today/20240516165759/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2002/09/06/Biscuit-done-Largest-US-fire-contained/27421031345270/ . May 16, 2024 . May 16, 2024 . United Press International.
  11. News: Keating . Gina . September 6, 2002 . Ritual candles eyed in Calif. fire . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516170310/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-ritual-candles-eyed-in/147502784/ . May 16, 2024 . May 16, 2024 . . . Reuters.
  12. Web site: Curve Fire 9-1-2002 Near Wrightwood California . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240410035129/https://www.wrightwoodcalif.com/curvefire9_02.html . April 10, 2024 . May 16, 2024 . WrightwoodCalif.com.
  13. News: Ritsch . Massie . Connell . Rich . September 3, 2002 . No Holiday From the Heat . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240410035130/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-03-me-hot3-story.html . April 10, 2024 . April 15, 2024 . Los Angeles Times.

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