Abstract
An overview of the 2009 Station Fire, which burned nearly one-fourth of the Angeles National Forest and was the largest fire in the County’s history. The arson fire destroyed 102 homes, cabins, and other structures. Two firefighters died when their vehicle went off a cliff. Hidden in these statistics is the toll to native plant and animal species that has occurred and the likely threat of even more damage from debris flow and soil erosion because of winter rains. The sheer size of the Station fire is making recovery and prevention of further damage extremely challenging. It will take many years for the watersheds in the Angeles National Forest to recover. Until then, interagency collaborative efforts and volunteer are essential to protect natural and cultural resources from further damage. Postfire recovery actions are focusing on protecting infrastructure, stabilizing ecosystems, reducing risk of invasive species spread.