Video of the Station Fire Burning Unchecked on 8-27-09

Residents of the Station Fire burn area call for a federal probe on why the reaction to the fire took so long. Several Big Tujunga residents claim they lost their homes and cabins due to a slow response by U.S. Forest Service fire fighting authorities.

The Station Fire grew in size overnight due to burning unchecked in the foothills above La Canada.

U.S. Forest Service authorities initially scaled back and underestimated the fire size and danger withholding multiple fire fighting aircraft, which grew to be the largest in LA County history and claimed the lives of two fire fighters. The Station Fire is still burning in the Angeles Forest and is not expected out until the first rain fall. Rain is not expected in the area for another month.

Residents of Big T have set up a blog about the conflagration.

Video Footage by Ted Soqui © 2009

Congratulations, Dr. Iron Fist

Congratulations to WBC boxing champion of the world, Vitali Klitschko. Vitali retained his WBC title over challenger Chris Arreola after the fight was stopped in the 10th of 12 rounds of boxing. Arreola was clearly over matched by the more powerful and skillful Klitschko.

After the bout, Vitali gave praise to the younger and tearful Arreola. The match was held at the Staples Center in downtown L.A.

Both fighters claim L.A. as their new hometown. Arreola is from Riverside, CA, and Klitschko hails from the Ukraine.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2009

Mayoral Mural Attacked By Vandals, Again.

Vandals updated their attack on the mural of L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. This time they spray painted the spanish word "vendido!" on the mural.

A vendido is one who sells out their people. The mural was first attacked by vandals with red paint.

The mural is located at Susy's Meat Market in East Hollywood.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2009

Video of Guiberson Fire Wind Driven Flames.

Footage by Ted Soqui © 2009

Guiberson Fire

Watched a red monster grow from 200 to 9000 acres in a couple of hours today. Santa Ana winds, temperatures over 105f, and single digit humidity levels fed the fast moving fire.

Almost got caught up in between the flames today. A wind gust in Grimes Canyon suddenly changed direction and I had to literally hot foot it out of the way. The fires cause was reported to be from a spontaneous fire in a pile of manure from a local farm.

The fire is still burning out of control. Dangerous fire conditions are expected to last till Thursday in the area.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2009

Mayoral Mural Attacked By Vandals

I photographed this mural of L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, which is located at Susy's Meat Market in East Hollywood, last Friday.

Vandals attacked the mural over the weekend with red paint, and spray painted the words "this is our town" on the sidewalk in front of the mural.

Photographs by Ted Soqui © 2009

Park(ing) Day LA

The third annual Park(ing) Day LA is underway. Various metered street parking spots all over the city of L.A. have been transformed into parks. Some spots feature environmental awareness programs, others have been made into swimming pools, DJ booths, and one was turned in a BBQ area.

More photos to come later today.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2009

Susy's Meat Market

Mural of L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on the store front of Susy's Meat Market in East Hollywood.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2009

Web extra - Postscript: Anatomy of a Prison- Los Angeles Magazine

Web extra - Postscript: Anatomy of a Prison- Los Angeles magazine

Web extra published by LA Magazine on the Lancaster State Prison story I photographed for them.

The story was written by the amazing Joe Domanick.

Shared via AddThis

One Year Ago Today

Here is the article I wrote on the Metrolink disaster one year ago for the LA Weekly.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2009

9-11-01 Los Angeles

Never Forget.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2001

MJ Fans Video @ Glendale Forest Lawn Memorial Park

Fans of Michael Jackson wait for the funeral procession to pass by outside the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.

Footage by Ted Soqui © 2009

MJ Funeral @ Glendale's Forest Lawn Memorial Park

Scenes near Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale. Hundreds of fans waited on the streets outside of the park for MJ's casket and family to drive by.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2009

Fire And Rain

Headed up the Angeles Crest Highway with photojournalist Jonathan Alcorn to cover the last gasp of the Station Fire. We drove up to Chilao camp area and a heavy ash color rain began to fall.

Met some hard working "hot shots" from Arizona who were chopping up the excess brush from the roadways of the Angeles Crest highway. The fire began to lay down so we headed to the summit of Mt. Wilson. Everything looked quiet up there, the fire was unable to climb the phoscheck soaked forest.

Our last stop was the Stonyvale area in the Big T area. Started to take photos of a couple of burned out homes. Walked on one to one property and began to feel bad for the owners loss, until I saw a pen of poor kitties that were left to die in the fire. Some of the cats died on the outside of the wire cages, not wanting to leave their friends and fellow felines behind. Broke my heart that someone would leave them to die in the slowest moving fire in history. The home owners made it out okay, why they left my feline friends to die in such a brutal way escapes me. Seeing my fellow felines abandoned will haunt and sadden me for a long time.

Photos by Ted Soqui © 2009

DC10 Phoscheck Drop Near Acton, CA

Video of a DC10 aircraft doing a massive phoscheck drop on the Station fire near the city of Acton, CA.

Footage by Ted Soqui © 2009

Joshua Trees Near Pearblossom Highway

Joshua trees near the Pearblossom highway. Smoke from the Station fire obscures the sky.

Photo by Ted Soqui © 2009