Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor PASADENA – Investigators believe a Houston, Texas man is behind a series of suspicious fires that all burned in close proximity to each other and over the course of one hour.
David William Powell, 40, is accused arson and attempted murder. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility on Los Angeles ahead of a scheduled appearance in Pasadena Municipal Court October 19. Powell is believed to have ignited two very destructive residential fires, two smaller fires and used a hammer to attack a man October 17, authorities said. The first destructive fire was dispatched at 5:41 p.m. in the 300 block of North Chester Avenue. The fire was located in a detached garage housing two vehicles. The fire extended into an adjacent apartment, according to Lisa Derderian, City Public Information Officer for Pasadena. Around 6 p.m., firefighters then reported a fire burning one block east and discovered a residential structure well-involved with fire near Holliston Avenue and Corson Street, Derderian said in a written statement. The Chester fire was quickly knocked down. The Holliston fire was knocked down in nearly 18 minutes. No one was home at the time, but the fire displaced all residents, Derderian said. A third, but smaller, fire was reported and extinguished at a construction site just before 7 p.m. in the 700 block of East Walnut Street. Another small fire was reported and extinguished in the 1800 block of Locust Street just before 8 p.m., authorities said. While the first two fires burned, Pasadena Police also responded to Allen Avenue and Corson Street to investigate an assault and found a man in his 50s suffering from major injuries allegedly caused in a hammer attack. The suspect fled in an SUV, authorities said. Police saw a suspicious SUV near the fourth fire and attempted to stop the driver possibly linked to the hammer attack. The driver fled and ran briefly, but was caught. Police seized evidence allegedly linking Powell to the hammer attack and fires. Damage caused in the Chester fire is estimated at $50,000. The fire damage on Holliston is estimated at $200,000 to the structure and $100,000 in contents, Derderian said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor PASADENA - One person received minor injuries after two vehicles collided, sending one crashing into a Cheesecake Factory early Tuesday.
The collision occurred around 5:50 a.m. May 25 at E. Colorado Blvd. and N. Fair Oaks Ave., according to the Pasadena Fire Department. Pasadena Urban Search and Rescue responded to evaluate the integrity of the building, The Pasadena Fire Department said. Employees were inside the restaurant when the crash occurred, but no one was injured inside. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor PASADENA - Two firefighters received minor injuries after attacking a blaze that displaced 50 residents and an apartment complex December 18.
The fire burned at 1127 E. Del Mar Blvd. Friday night. Five units were damaged by fire and five units received water damage, according to the City of Pasadena. The three-alarm fire was dispatched to firefighters at 10:41 p.m., according to Pasadena Fire Department. Firefighters remained on scene for nearly 12 hours during the investigation. The 50 displaced residents reportedly were able to seek temporary shelter with nearby family and friends, the City of Pasadena said. The injured firefighters were briefly hospitalized. The cause is under investigation. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor PASADENA - Seven people were hospitalized in less than 24 hours, the victims of likely drug overdoses, Pasadena Police said Saturday.
Three of the seven victims died, three are recovering at area hospitals and one is listed in grave condition, according to the Pasadena Police Department in a written statement. Two of the surviving victims were administered Nalaxone, Pasadena Police said. The first victim was transported to an area hospital Friday, September 11 at 4:30 p.m. The unresponsive victim was suffering from respiratory distress consistent with opiate overdose, Pasadena Police said. The most recent incident occurred at 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon and the 1700 block of Casitas Avenue were a victim was found deceased. Evidence of drug usage was found, Pasadena Police said. All seven victims are men ranging in age from their 30s to their 60s, Pasadena Police said. “Pasadena detectives have responded and are actively investigating to determine if these incidents are linked. Opium-related deaths are not common in Pasadena, and both the police department and fire department are extremely concerned about the increase in overdose-related deaths over the past 24 hours,” Pasadena Police said in a written statement. Anyone with information about any of these cases to call Pasadena Police at 626-744-4241. Information can be anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3 Tips mobile app, or at lacrimestoppers.org. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor PASADENA - Good Samaritans attempted to evacuate people trapped by flames in an apartment fire that claimed the life of a young child Wednesday.
The fire burned at 169 E. Washington Blvd. just before 2 p.m. Two first floor units were heavily damaged by fire and a second story unit was damaged by smoke, according to Lisa Derderian, City of Pasadena spokeswoman. The conditions of the mother and child were not divulged. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor UPDATE, 6:30 A.M.: After two CHP units on scene reported debris on the Gold Line tracks, CHP dispatchers said one train moved past the crash at reduced speed and reported no blockage on the railroad tracks.
A Sig Alert has been issued, with a closure of the HOV, No. 1, 2 and 3 lanes beginning at Rosemead Boulevard for two hours. PASADENA - All lanes of the westbound 210 freeway west of Madre Street except the No. 5 lane remain closed after a big rig hit the center divider and knocked debris across the Gold Line tracks. The crash occurred around 5:22 a.m. December 7. The semi hauling the empty trailer may have hit another vehicle before hitting the center divider, according to the California Highway Patrol. CHP officers on scene are requesting to have Metropolitan Transportation Authority to shut down the Gold Line tracks. The CHP will be diverting westbound traffic off the freeway at Sierra Madre Villa. According to officers at the scene, approximately 30 gallons of diesel fuel has spilled onto the freeway. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor PASADENA - Red Flag parking restrictions will go into effect at 8 a.m. today, officials said. Pasadena Fire Chief Bertral Washington ordered Red Flag Parking restrictions to start Friday, October 25 and will be in effect until further notice, officials said. The restrictions are necessary to allow fire department vehicle access to urban wildlife areas with narrow streets and to allow for quicker evacuations, officials said. Extra fire patrols will also be added to the city’s foothill areas. Visit the City of Pasadena website to see a map of affected areas. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor PASADENA - An unknown number of people were possibly injured after two vehicles collided, sending one vehicle onto the Gold Line tracks.
The collision occurred in westbound lanes of the 210 freeway near Sierra Madre Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau. A fire ignited after the collision occurred, which was reported around 6:08 p.m. August 15. The westbound HOV and No. 1 lane are blocked until at least 7:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol. Trains in both directions are stopped. It is unclear if there has been any damage to Gold Line equipment. Bus shuttles are being provided between the Sierra Madre and Allen stations until the vehicle can be removed from the tracks, according to the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor PASADENA - A fire is burning inside a Burger King restaurant, firefighters report. The fire is burning at the restaurant, 622 S. Fair Oaks Ave., and was dispatched to firefighters at 9:44 p.m. A helicopter overhead reported to firefighters that smoke and flames were seen shooting from a roof vent, according to Pasadena Fire Department radio traffic. The flames may be contained to the vent alone, firefighters said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor UPDATE - Police have opened up South Raymond Avenue after it was shut down for a fire department investigation. PASADENA - Firefighters are conducting a hazardous materials investigation in the 800 block of South Raymond Avenue. Police have South Raymond blocked from Fillmore Street to Glenarm Street, according to the Pasadena Police Department. Firefighters were dispatched to the 800 block of South Raymond Avenue at 5:26 p.m. |
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