Sunday evening, October 12,
2008, a fire started around 8:30pm on Angel Island. Fire response started
quickly, but the fire eventually spread to about 300 acres of the park's 740
acres and seriously threatened historic buildings at Camp Reynolds on the
west side (Civil War era buildings, of which a few have been restored) and
at Fort McDowell on the east side (WWI and later buildings, many of which
currently serve as park staff housing). The response by local
firefighters, CalFire, and park staff saved all structures except one
abandoned water tank. As of Monday, Oct. 20, there were still
fire-fighters and 'hot spots' on the island.
Several local papers have great stories and photos about
the efforts and results of the fire fight. The Marin Independent Journal:
Initial story,
Photos,
Follow-up 1,
Follow-up 2. The San Francisco Chronicle:
Tuesday(1),
Tuesday (2),
Wednesday.
Contra Costa Times:
Saturday
Various reports we have found say that the animals on
the island mostly survived. There was a report of one raccoon dying, but
no deer carcasses were found as of Wednesday, so it is likely that the
herd of about 60 deer made it to safety. Until the rains come this
winter, when the island will green up again, they will probably have enough to
eat in the unburned areas. As it is not nesting season, there was no
evidence of bird deaths either.
By day's end on Monday, the fire was 90% contained.
However, the landscape has been dramatically altered, especially the view
from the south side. Photos shown here document the challenge and the
efforts to save Angel Island. Click on any photo with a colored border for
a larger version.
If you have a photo you would like to submit for
consideration, please send it to
webm@angelisland.org.
