Griffith Park’s Observatory has been spared… for now

You know it’s going to be a loooooong summer for California when even its islands start catching fire.

More than 3,000 people have been evacuated from Santa Catalina Island — the place OCers ferry to when they get bored with their own paradise — as a 4,000-acre wildfire continues to threaten its main city of Avalon. The blaze began Thursday afternoon and is reported to be about 10% contained.

Not counting firefighters, only about 1,700 residents remain on Catalina, which lies 22 miles off the coast of Los Angeles.

Southern California is, of course, no stranger to wildfires year after year. But what’s unusual with this recent spate of SoCal blazes is how many major tourist attractions, along with Catalina, have been threatened.

Much of Griffith Park has been charred – including NYP Travel’s favorite hike in the hills, the Mount Hollywood run. Fortunately, the adjacent Griffith Park’s Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo, and the Hollywood sign have been spared.