Final lab

               The last lab included an analysis of the wildfires that took place in California in the summer of 2009. On August 26, 2009, the largest wildfire, known as the Station Fire, spread across LA County in California. Los Angeles is particularly prone to wildfires due to the enormous amount of dead vegetation covering the surface.  The wildfire further progressed as a result of the hot climate and high winds. The fire burned approximately 160,577 acres of land, destroyed over 200 buildings, and took the lives of two firemen. The Station Fire ended on October 16, 2009. However, the Station Fire damaged many infrastructures, caused delays throughout Los Angeles County, and damaged the environment.

            My first map is a reference map that displays the progression and the areas the fire spread to over a 5-day period. On August 26, 2009, the fire started a few miles away from the Angeles Fire Station on the Angeles Crest Highway. The legend displays the progression of the fire on a day to day basis. On August 29, the fire spread slowly throughout the mountains. On September 2, the fire nearly doubled in size and expanded in the west and east directions. The reference map serves as a vivid representation of the total area the fire covered.

            My second map is the thematic map which displays how transportation was affected by the Station Fire. The black lines on the thematic map represent the highways throughout Los Angeles County. As seen by this map, many freeways connecting to counties outside of LA County were inaccessible. Additionally, major airports such as LAX, and Burbank airport were affected by the Station Fire. Due to the close proximity of the Station Fire, many flights were delayed and traffic delays increased.

            I decided to create a shaded relief map to display the features of the surface such as canyons, mountains, valleys, and the differences in elevation. The map displays these features in relationship to the Station Fire. It is evident from the map, that the fire spread on the mountain as opposed to the flatter terrain. The lighter green areas on the map represent the mountain, whereas the darker green color represents the lower elevation regions where the fire was not as prominent. Fires tend to burn faster on steeper terrain as opposed to flat land. Since the fire originated in an area near the mountain, I am sure it contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

            The reference map above displays the damage and impact the fire had on the surrounding areas of Los Angeles. The Station Fire was recorded as the largest fire in Los Angeles history and the 10^th largest fire in California. The fire burned for over a month and affected the environment, buildings, and people living in the area. Major highways and airports were impacted as a result of the fire. Animal habitats were destroyed and natural water sources were polluted with soot and ashes.

Bloomekatz, Ari B. "Station Fire Was Arson, Officials Say; Homicide Investigation Begins."LA Times. Tribune, 3 Sept. 2009. Web. 14 March 2013.

"InciWeb the Incident Information System: Station Fire Announcement." InciWeb the Incident Information System: Current Incidents. Web. 14 March 2013.

"Mapshare: UCLA's Spatial Data Repository." GIS at UCLA: Mapshare DB. Web. 15 March 2013.

Pringle, Paul. "L.A. Now." L.A. County Fire Doubles in Size; More Homes Destroyed; Mt. Wilson Threatened [Updated]. N.p., 31 Aug. 2009. Web. 16 March 2013.

Randal C. Archibald. "After a Devastating Fire, an Intense Study of Its Effects. The New    York Times. The New York Times Company. 2009. Web. 15 March 2013.