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Wildfires in Southern California’s San Gabriel mountain range have “gone nuclear” according to the National Forest Service. More than 42,500 acres are now affected by the so-called “station fire,” threatening Foothill communities north of Pasadena including La Canada and Altadena. Twelve thousand residences remain evacuated and two firefighters were killed on Sunday when their vehicle overturned on the side of a cliff. Eighteen homes have apparently been destroyed and 3 residents are reported to have been injured. The fires are now heading toward Mount Wilson, home to numerous local television and radio transmitters including KPFK. Firefighters had laid down flame retardant in front of the communication center and evacuated all personnel. Mount Wilson is also the site of an historic astronomical observatory. The famed astronomer Edwin Hubble realized that galaxies were moving away from one another because of an expanding universe using the 100 inch Hooker Telescope The Pasadena Star News is reporting that the fires were predicted to reach Mount Wilson by this morning. The paper quoted Forest Service Capt. Mike Dietrich as saying, “It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”

GUEST: Bob Conger, KPFK’s Chief Engineer and interim General Manager

View the Mount Wilson Webcamera at http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~obs/towercam.htm