Newcomb's Ranch - no more?

[Rambler]

It has been reported that Newcomb's Ranch off ACH has been burned down by the station fire.  

I wonder if insurance will allow the owners to rebuild?

[Tar Snake]

It has been reported that Newcomb's Ranch off ACH has been burned down by the station fire.  

I wonder if insurance will allow the owners to rebuild?

I used to joke "Newcomb till they glow" but I didn't actually mean it.........  

I'll bet if not Newcomb's somebody rebuilds there, unless the powers that be see it as a chance to get the racers off the ACH.

[atadaskew]

And they just recently finished a really nice remodel.

Caltrans people used to eat there too, not just bikers.

All these years we waited for the road to reopen to Wrightwood, and now this happens...

[traveler]

Very sorry to hear that. My condolences to all the socal riders who enjoyed the ranch. I've been there a couple of time myself, always a cool scene.

[ksann]

Living at the foothills below, the smoke and ash is amazing.
Sad stuff indeed.



ken

[1moreroad]

Darnit!  2 days ago, it had looked like the fireline wasn't reaching that far north.  Very sad.

Wait... the fire is over the AF highway, not the Crest.  It's nowhere near Chilao Flats.

[jakieboy]

It has been reported that Newcomb's Ranch off ACH has been burned down by the station fire.  

I wonder if insurance will allow the owners to rebuild?

NOOOOO! Say it isn't so!!!

[Tar Snake]

I still can't find a news story confirming it's gone, altough I found an LA Times story when I googled "Station Fire" with an interactive map that showed the fire area, and it looks as though it's gone.

Most results are forumns saying: "People in the know say it's gone".

Here's holding out hope it's internet rumor....

[jakieboy]

I called and the phone rings but of course no answer. If it burned wouldn't I get a "this # no longer in service" or some such recording?

http://www.newcombsranch.com/home_iframe.htm

[Bigwhited]

No because the phone line is still active just nothing hooked to it

[atadaskew]

I got this from my Ducati St group:

Begin forwarded message:
>
>
> A friend who knows some of the people that work and live at Newcombs
> sent this. I forgot that some people live there so it's a bit more
> serious than we lose a place to eat.
>
>
> I got a text message from Carlos last night at 11:30 saying that
> Newcombs had caught fire. I called this morning and he said that
> Victor was the last man standing and that he called to say he was
> evacuated as the flames over-took the building. He said they tried
> to save Chilao but lost that battle in addition to Fish Camp,
> Pacifico, the Cal Trans yard, and pretty much everything else on the
> mountain.

[vguy]

If this is true...
I'll be willing to bet that the parking lot at Newcomb's remains a motorcycle rest area just as it has for years.
There was always more people outside than inside anyway.
I'll have to bring my own iced tea or coffee for a while.
Still sad though, as the place had quintessence.

[jakieboy]

Ouote from Atadaskew...

I got this from my Ducati St group:


Quote
Begin forwarded message:
>
>
> A friend who knows some of the people that work and live at Newcombs
> sent this. I forgot that some people live there so it's a bit more
> serious than we lose a place to eat.
>
>
> I got a text message from Carlos last night at 11:30 saying that
> Newcombs had caught fire. I called this morning and he said that
> Victor was the last man standing and that he called to say he was
> evacuated as the flames over-took the building. He said they tried
> to save Chilao but lost that battle in addition to Fish Camp,
> Pacifico, the Cal Trans yard, and pretty much everything else on the
> mountain.


I didn't know anyone lived there either! Glad they are all out and safe..

[atadaskew]

The Caltrans workers who lived up there are really upset right now.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/enclave-of-caltrans-workers-angered-by-fire-losses-near-mt-wilson.html

[ksann]

Caltrans workers angered at loss of their homes near Mt. Wilson [Updated]
September 1, 2009 |  7:37 pm


For decades, an enclave of Caltrans workers has lived in a group of 80-year-old homes alongside Angeles Crest Highway, about 10 miles northeast of the Mt. Wilson Observatory. It is their job to keep the highway free of debris, rocks and snow for the benefit of thousands of people who travel to the top of the Angeles National Forest year round.

At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, those residents –- who include four families, some of whom have lived here for more than a quarter century --- were taking stock of their losses. Three of four historic homes were destroyed adjacent to a relatively new $4-million Caltrans maintenance center. [Updated, 8:41 p.m. The center, which was constructed with fire-resistant materials, was largely unscathed.]

The California Department of Transportation employees who lived at the remote location known as Chilao were deeply embittered by having been, as they put it, abandoned by firefighting crews as flames bore down on them Monday afternoon.

Some  were too angry to talk about it. But equipment operator Robert Torres, whose home was the only residence spared, offered a few comments on their behalf.

“We were left on our own here,” he said. “At one point, there was a helicopter flying overhead with a bladder full of water and not dropping. What does that tell you?”

“Before we evacuated, we were waiting for a strike team to arrive or an aerial drop of water or fire retardant,” Torres said. “That never happened.”

Late Tuesday afternoon, it seemed especially upsetting to the residents that an extraordinary amount of attention was being paid to saving property at nearby camping facilities and the Mt. Wilson complex.

“The U.S. Forest Service knows we’re here,” Torres said.

-- Louis Sahagun

(credit Atadaskew for posting the link)

I feel for these guys, but I don't agree with their sentiment. The firemen should protect whatever is deemed most important, and a few homes for Caltrans workers are less important than the historic and still valuable research centers on Mt Wilson. History was made there, and still is these days.



ken

[M.Brane]

(credit Atadaskew for posting the link)

I feel for these guys, but I don't agree with their sentiment. The firemen should protect whatever is deemed most important, and a few homes for Caltrans workers are less important than the historic and still valuable research centers on Mt Wilson. History was made there, and still is these days.



ken

 I have worked with those guys up there. Good bunch.

 I hope they at least managed to get most of their stuff out of the houses, and into the truck barn before they burned. Guess they can set up some cots in there too so they have someplace warm to sleep this winter. Sure would suck to have to try to drive that hill every day in inclement weather.

[Specter]

Sad to hear its gone - I lived in Altadena up until 2008, and rode those canyons more than a few times.  Good food, nice people.  Its difficult to tell whether they'll be allowed to rebuild. Lots of private property within the Angeles National Forest can't be sold or rebuilt. The Feds want to get all the private land back into park land.

[M.Brane]

The Caltrans workers who lived up there are really upset right now.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/09/enclave-of-caltrans-workers-angered-by-fire-losses-near-mt-wilson.html

 I love some of the comments there. Makes me feel real good about risking my life to take care of the roads for $40K a year, and then looking forward to that hefty 1.5% at 65 retirement package which likely won't even exist by the time I get there..

[1moreroad]

   I had looked at a map dated August 31 that made it look like the fires were still 10 miles away from Chilao.  I've been camping up there a few times.  Even my son had breakfast at Newcomb's after a camping trip up there when he was 4.

 I love some of the comments there. Makes me feel real good about risking my life to take care of the roads for $40K a year, and then looking forward to that hefty 1.5% at 65 retirement package which likely won't even exist by the time I get there..

Emotions are high and there are regrettable comments all the way around.  FF's wives (named larry?) shouldn't be posting comments on a public forum about not caring if homes were lost so long as her husband was safe.  If those are state-owned homes then the state made a risk-benefit calculation and chose to try to save the Mount Wilson complex instead of the homes. 

Your comment about having to drive up there every day is a good point, though.

I really hope the employees got their personal belongings out and I hope they have replacement insurance for what they did have.  This is a triage situation, though.  There aren't possibly enough fire fighters to effectively fight the fire everywhere so you're going to pick protecting La Canada or Mount Wilson over a handful of homes (that may be owned by the state) in the middle of the Forest.

I noticed that LA county is taking a MUCH harder stance against folks who decided to "ride out" the fires instead of evacuate.

[1moreroad]

   As of 2:16 am this morning, the fire line had not yet reached Newcomb's.  If it's burning, then it's a spot fire from embers.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=117631292961056724014.0004720e21d9cded17ce4&ll=34.341168,-118.164825&spn=0.566957,0.823975&t=p&z=10&source=embed

EDITED TO ADD: Nope, per LA County Fire, it passed Newcomb's around 9:00 last night.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=101000290928271643997.00047254c6550b383530c&t=p&ll=34.253811,-118.188171&spn=0.198642,0.291824&z=11&source=embed

[Tar Snake]

I think if Chilao is gone then Newcomb's is gone...

Looking on their website though it also burned down in 1976 so hopefully it will rise again.

A couple of years ago when Orange County had its big fire it changed the way Santiago Peak and the surrounding hills look from a distance, it's so barren and still is. I bicycle in Santiago Canyon a lot and it is encouraging how quickly things are starting to come back, but man, I can't imagine how bad ACH is going to look.  

When I lived in Long Beach it was my refuge from the city, you could actually smell the pines and fresh air on a ride.

I'm hoping in the future the strategy of letting small fires burnout undergrowth will keep these explosive inferno type fires at bay.

[Bigwhited]

From the fire line it does not look good but does anyone have any confirmation on Newcomb's?

[Rambler]

From the fire line it does not look good but does anyone have any confirmation on Newcomb's?

Until they open ACH back up (and who knows when that will be), we'll just have to rely on those "in the know" and the net.

[Rambler]

There's word that KTLA (channel 5) just reported that Newcomb's Ranch is still there, and that they had video to prove it.

I did not see the news myself for this, but just reporting from Brian over @ SoCalSportTouring.

[DancesWithTrees]

I was just watching the ktla news out of LA and they highlighted the fact that Newcomb's ranch had NOT burned as of this evening.  They're concerned about it burning but as of this evening it was still intact.

[CapnTreee]

Confirmed from another website at http://mayorsam.blogspot.com/2009/09/great-news-newcombs-ranch-survived.html that Newcombs has dodged the flames.  Too bad about local residents though.  I loved this place and everything about the region.  Many nights spent at Chilao...

[Rambler]

Confirmed from another website at http://mayorsam.blogspot.com/2009/09/great-news-newcombs-ranch-survived.html that Newcombs has dodged the flames.

Really glad to hear that!  

[1moreroad]

Thanks for the update.

Confirmed from another website at http://mayorsam.blogspot.com/2009/09/great-news-newcombs-ranch-survived.html that Newcombs has dodged the flames.  Too bad about local residents though.  I loved this place and everything about the region.  Many nights spent at Chilao...

Those are f**ked up comments.

So who the h3!! posted up the false report?!

Now they think the fire is going to reach Crystal Lake?  At least 39 and GMR "just" had a fire a few years ago so there is less fuel.

[atadaskew]

There's word that KTLA (channel 5) just reported that Newcomb's Ranch is still there, and that they had video to prove it.

I did not see the news myself for this, but just reporting from Brian over @ SoCalSportTouring.

I just did a search on their site and nothing came up...
http://www.ktla.com/

[atadaskew]

I just tried to call Newcombe's.  Their phone line works, their answer machine comes up , explains hours of operation etc, but when I dialed an extension there was no answer.  That could just mean they are busy...

[Rambler]

I just tried to call Newcombe's.  Their phone line works, their answer machine comes up , explains hours of operation etc, but when I dialed an extension there was no answer.  That could just mean they are busy...

Or that they haven't been allowed to return back yet.  The fires are still going...

[ksann]

Did they BBQ before?




ken
(sorry, it was low and classles, but I just couldn't resist)

[atadaskew]

Or that they haven't been allowed to return back yet.  The fires are still going...

But the claim is they are currently feeding the fire fighters....

[jakieboy]

Just saw a shot of fire fighters at Newcombs Ranch on channel 7, looks ok!

[ksann]

Officially called Arson now.  


Sad.



250 square miles burned.
60 houses.
2 firefighters lost their lives.




ken

[atadaskew]

Someone set a fire on the Ortega Hwy last night.
F-in Fs.

[cnalley76]

hey all i am not a rider but a little info for you all... i work for a local tow company and just so you all know i was up on the crest today to get a vehicle that broke down.... i went to the cal trans yard... i talked to some of cal trans workers and fire fighters and they told me that newcombs was ok... the fire was close but it did survive... that was this morning 9/4/09... and to clear up some rumors cal trans yard is intact except for the houses that were up there

[ksann]

This morning on NPR they stated that 'A cafe was destroyed'.

I know that there is also one on 39 (Azusa), but where else?




ken

[M.Brane]

Probably Hidden Springs Cafe on Angeles Forest.

 Doesn't look like there's much left:

[Green01SprintST]

You can see the phone booth in this shot for some perspective.  Very sad.

[M.Brane]

 Damn this sucks. I was looking forward to enjoying a lot of these roads/places when the weather cooled off a bit. I love fall in CA.

 How about we introduce some legislation that requires arsonists to work the front lines of these fires? Seems like a fitting punishment to me. If they like fire so much suit 'em up, and send 'em to the front.

[miles]

 Damn this sucks. I was looking forward to enjoying a lot of these roads/places when the weather cooled off a bit. I love fall in CA.

 How about we introduce some legislation that requires arsonists to work the front lines of these fires? Seems like a fitting punishment to me. If they like fire so much suit 'em up, and send 'em to the front.

Most of them already do...  The first line of investigation into an arson is volunteer or seasonal firefighters (sorry, Greg, but it's true).  Arsonists are attracted to the job, and often set the fires so they can be heroes by putting them out.

[M.Brane]

Most of them already do...  The first line of investigation into an arson is volunteer or seasonal firefighters (sorry, Greg, but it's true).  Arsonists are attracted to the job, and often set the fires so they can be heroes by putting them out.

 Maybe we should just set fire to them then.

[miles]

I'm not a vindictive man, but I'd be OK with that.  Of the four monster fires we've had here in San Diego in the last few years only one was an accident.

[DancesWithTrees]

You can see the phone booth in this shot for some perspective.  Very sad.

It looks like a different location than the burn photo above.  The telephone booth is much closer to the hillside in the burn photo than this photo, maybe it's just the perspective.

[DancesWithTrees]

Here's a photo I took last night on a ride near Running Springs.   It's amazing what smoke and pollution can do to a sunset.  

[Green01SprintST]

It looks like a different location than the burn photo above.

Look to the right of the phone booth in the burn pic and there is a rock wall; it looks to be the same in both pics to me.  I could be wrong, even hope I am, but I don't think so.

[1moreroad]

Most of them already do...  The first line of investigation into an arson is volunteer or seasonal firefighters (sorry, Greg, but it's true).  Arsonists are attracted to the job, and often set the fires so they can be heroes by putting them out.

Sad fact that FFs like fire of all kinds.  Some want to be heroes.  Some like watching fires.  Some like the adrenaline rush of fighting them.

But... FWIW a large forest fire is not the kind of fire an FF arsonist would set I would think.  There can't be a single hero, just (in this case) a month of grueling work.  It would more likely be a house fire that an FF arsonist set.