Bobcat Fire: Flames edge closer to Mount Wilson, a landmark of modern technology
"This is where astrophysics was invented. The first half of the 20th century was about Mount Wilson. It was the only place in the world where you could do that type of science."
MOUNT WILSON, Calif. (KABC) -- The Bobcat Fire is within 500 feet of the famed Mount Wilson Observatory which was founded in 1904.
That's left docent and part-time Mount Wilson resident Robert Anderson on edge.
"A sense of impending doom that this great national treasure might soon be lost or at least severely damaged by the fire," Anderson said.
RELATED: Bobcat Fire crews race to protect Mount Wilson
"I'm really afraid because it looks a lot closer than it may be, but I was watching most of last night, it was frightening. What I saw, I did not like," said Tom Meneghini, executive director of the Mount Wilson Institute.
The remaining four Mount Wilson Institute employees evacuated the facility Monday night, leaving roughly 50 firefighters on site to protect the landmark and an estimated $1 billion worth of transmission towers, a key site for TV, radio and government agencies.
"It takes a long time to put out a fire in this rugged terrain. You can't get people on the ground there. No matter how good the firefighters are, the terrain is simply too rugged," said Anderson.
That's why Mount Wilson invested in a fire suppression system following the 2009 Station Fire, rebuilding a half-million-gallon water tank with 33 places for the remaining 12 engine companies to access water.
There are also new high-pressure fire hydrants.
Mount Wilson staff says they haven't slept in days watching the fire creep closer to the 5,700-foot-high peak.
"This is a world-significant institution in terms of its instruments, the telescopes, the people who work there, the scientific endeavor that was accomplished there," said Meneghini.
"This is where astrophysics was invented. It was done on Mount Wilson. The first half of the 20th century was about Mount Wilson. It was the only place in the world where you could do that type of science."
