When: Thursday, September 29, 2005, around 5:30 pm PST

Where: HWY 101 & Las Virgenes Rd., Calabasas, CA.

What: Topanga Wildfire at Las Virgenes & HWY 101
The fire, which was first reported about 1:50 p.m. PST Wednesday, broke out north of the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway, west of Topanga Canyon Boulevard, near Chatsworth. Pushed by hot Santa Ana winds, the blaze spread west into Ventura County.

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One day after this panorama was shot, 16,200 acres had burned on the border of Los Angeles and Ventura counties and the fire was only 5% contained. Mandatory evacuations were ordered; one house, five other structures destroyed; cause undetermined; one firefighter suffered minor injury. At one point, up to 2,000 homes were in danger of going up in flames. Two days later the fire had spread to 24,000 acres and was 60% contained. Evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes. Twenty-three hundred firefighters continued their air-ground assault, which had destroyed three homes and cost more than $6.7 million in firefighting costs.

VR photographer John E Schwarzell, an area resident, reports that in Los Angeles, brush fire-watching is a new pastime, therefore making it difficult to find ‘fire’ parking. “The LAFD and police keep the crowd updated on when to leave, and make sure that everyone turns their car facing away from danger for the quickest evacuation”, he says. “The LAFD generally knows how close the fire can come before they evacuate residents and passers-by, and control the scene pretty well. I didn't know how far I could take things, but was not hindered anywhere I went during this fire. I had a long hike in and out, and breathing was difficult at the end, and it was intensely hot during the shoot, but it was fairly simple and easy.”

”The LAFD is well prepared for this season, and with the past week of fires, they have lost only seven structures and have saved thousands upon thousands of homes”, he continues. “In most cases you can see that the fire had burned literally right up to where residents had cleared brush from their yards. Most structures that were lost were lost due to poor clearing practices. The LAFD has a blog at http://lafd.blogspot.com/. Thanks to all their hard work!”

How: Schwarzell says he arrived at the scene a few hours after hearing about it on the news. He carefully pinpointed a spot where he might have the easiest access for a shot. “With luck, the fire stormed this street from three directions, and the shot came off a success. Note: the LAFD already had firebreaks and natural breaks in place and knew where the fire would stop, if it didn't jump some gaps. They mandatorily evacuated the area at the time of this VR, and no structures depicted were harmed.”

Equipment: Nikon D100, Sigma 8mm, shot at 1/15 s @ f/8 to 1/250th @ f/8, stitched with PTMac (Kekus) and MakeCubic.

View Schwarzell's second panorama taken After the Wildfire.

Comments:
Awsome,Awsome Pictures!!!!!!!! I was so glad when they did get it stopped before it destroyed more. wonderful work. God Bless you all.
Email: jes360[at]socal[dot]rr[dot]com