Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Authorities recently announced that a hiker missing since July 1 in the mountains above the Altadena area was found dead one week after he was reported missing.
Albert Baer Zisook, 65, was found on Bear Canyon Trail near Mt. Lowe Road, according to the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner. His cause of death has been deferred, pending additional investigation. Zisook was reported missing to the Los Angeles Police Department. He was last seen July 1 at 6 a.m. near Chaney Trail and Loma Alta Drive in Altadena. Zisook's family noted that he was an avid hiker. "After many days of searching, with more than a thousand man-hours from multiple search & rescue teams, our operation concluded. However, the outcome was not as hoped. Our heartfelt condolences to the family of Albert Zisook," according to the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team in a written statement. The arduous search led a search team member to sustain serious injuries. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – The stubborn Bobcat Fire tearing its way through the San Gabriel Mountains is 6 percent contained Friday, the U.S. Forest Service said. 26,368 acres have burned in the steep, rugged mountain terrain since the fire’s inception five days ago. 540 firefighters from surrounding agencies, assisted by helicopters and some fixed-wing aircraft, continue to focus work on the south and north flanks of the fire that continue to grow. Firefighters achieved containment on the eastern flank where the Bobcat Fire ran into the burn scar etched by the Ranch 2 Fire, the U.S. Forest Service said. Two air tankers were able to perform drops of fire retardant Thursday after dense smoke on the south flank above Monrovia lifted. A helicopter and two groups of camp crews were also sent to bolster fire lines there, the U.S. Forest Service said. Overnight, two Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopters equipped with night vision were able to tend to flames on the south flank.
Winds continue to push the fire north towards Crystal Lake. Flames have reached the into the upper ridges near Angeles Crest Highway where fire retardant line have been laid by aircraft, the U.S. Forest Service said. Ground crews will continue to patrol the foothill communities and conduct structure protection and triage efforts, the U.S. Forest Service said. The City of Monrovia has established road blocks along planned evacuation routes and bolstered the areas with additional police patrols to push non-residents and unnecessary traffic out of the area, Monrovia city officials said. Unnecessary vehicle traffic created what Monrovia officials considered public safety concerns and apparently even delayed fire trucks from being able to move from location to location, Monrovia city officials said. Firefighters estimate the Bobcat Fire may be contained by October 15. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The stubborn Bobcat Fire surpassed 10,000 acres Tuesday.
So far, 10,344 acres have burned. Firefighters have yet to set any containment figures on the fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service. A Red Flag warning, which went into effect at Noon Tuesday, remains in effect until 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 8 for the mountains and valleys of Ventura and Los Angeles counties. Cities that could face great danger should Santa Ana winds drive the fire further south now include Pasadena and Altadena, in addition to Arcadia, Bradbury, Duarte, Monrovia and Sierra Madre. Arcadia officials announced Tuesday night that residents north of Foothill Boulevard and east of Santa Anita Avenue should consider voluntarily evacuating. “Although there is no immediate threat of fire to Arcadia residences at this time, predictive modeling of both the weather and the Bobcat Fire suggests that circumstances could become more concerning overnight,” Arcadia officials said in a written statement. Arcadia City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto has issued a Declaration of Local Emergency allowing for emergency provisions to be enacted in response to the fire. The Red Cross has established a temporary evacuation point at Santa Anita Park, 285 W. Huntington Dr., Gate 5, in Arcadia. It is now open for anyone affected by the Bobcat Fire. COVID-19 safety measures are in place & Red Cross volunteers are ready to help evacuees into safe lodging, the Red Cross announced. A hotline has been established at 626-574-5463 for the most current and up-to-date information regarding the fire’s impact on Arcadia. Fire crews in Monrovia performed preventative work Tuesday, cleaning hazardous vegetation, per-treating areas and improving access points in the event flames reach foothill neighborhoods, according to Monrovia city officials. Containment has been made even more laborious due to poor visibility and the treacherous terrain. The Bobcat Fire is burning in steep terrain of the West Fork area of the San Gabriel drainage. Flames continue to move north into the wilderness and south towards Mt. Bliss. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors renewed a $20,000 reward Tuesday in hopes of information leading to the arrest of a man who shot and killed a 4-year-old boy in Altadena four years ago.
The shooting occurred July 5, 2016 in the 300 block of West Figueroa Drive in Altadena. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives believe a drunken fight led to the accidental shooting of the boy, identified as Salvador Esparza. Detectives believe the live-in boyfriend of the child’s mother and the boyfriend’s brother were the intended targets. The gunman apparently argued with the boyfriend and his brother an hour before the shooting took place. He returned in a dark colored sedan to the house on Figueroa Drive, exited and open fire. The gunman fired as many as 13 shots that night. The boyfriend was also shot, but survived his wounds. Anyone with information on the gunman is urge to call the Los Angeles county sheriffs homicide bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), Through the P3 Tips mobile app, or at crimestoppers.org. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Officials recently identified a 19-year-old man killed in a drive-by shooting in Altadena. William Harris IV, from Pasadena, died after being taken to an area hospital. He was shot by a suspect from an undescribed vehicle June 10. Harris died from gunshot wounds of the torso, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Harris and a 17-year-old were both struck by gunfire in the 2100 block of Santa Anita Avenue June 10. The condition of the teen injured was not disclosed. Anyone with information on the suspect or who witnessed the shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate! Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - One hiker was hospitalized with unknown injuries after falling 40 feet from the top of Switzer Falls above Altadena Monday night.
Firefighters and a helicopter located the victim after being dispatched around 8:22 p.m. A helicopter located the victim and hoisted them out along with an uninjured hiker, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. A medic was lowered to the injured hiker and assessed the hiker’s injuries before they were airlifted. The victim and uninjured were taken to Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena. |
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