Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - More human remains are being recovered during grid searches in the Eaton Fire burn area, authorities said Sunday.

11 deaths are confirmed and 12 people are reported as missing, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

A grid search conducted January 11 of 363 residences was conducted and three deaths were found, Luna said.

Favorable weather allowed firefighters to gain 27 percent containment. Acreage burned stands at 14,117. Inspectors have completed 16 percent of damage assessments for dwellings within the burn area, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone.

Without providing specifics, Marrone said Los Angeles County is working on the opportunity for residents to view Online their property for damage assessments.

Despite the high publicity of National Guard troops and increased police patrols in burn areas, burglars and looters are still penetrating, perimeters to commit crimes within affected areas.

Nearly 30 people have been arrested so far in both the Eaton fire and Palisades fire burn areas, accused of burglary and looting, according to Sheriff Luna: 25. In the Eaton Fire burn area and four in the Palisades burn area.

Saturday in the Palisades burn area, a burglary suspect decked out in firefighter attire was arrested, Luna said.

In the Eaton Fire burn area, three people were arrested for curfew violations, while three were arrested. Among the charges were carrying a concealed firearm and narcotics violations, Luna said.

Residents and business owners are still not allowed within the Eaton fire burn area. Sunday morning, there were reports of Scientology members attempting to enter the Eaton Fire burn area reportedly to clean up. A group of Scientology members were turned away at Woodbury and Fair Oaks Avenue, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s radio traffic.

For the time being, only authorized personnel are allowed within the Eaton Fire burn area. Authorities have yet to determine a time when residents and business owners can re-populate the area.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - Firefighters are making gains on the Eaton Fire that decimated large swaths of Altadena and Pasadena.

Acreage burned now stands at 14,117 with 15 percent containment. Eight people have been confirmed dead and 11 people are missing and unaccounted for. More than 7,000 homes, businesses, outhouses and vehicles are damaged or destroyed.

2,532 firefighters are assigned to the Eaton Fire. A 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew remains in effect for all areas under evacuation orders in both the Eaton and Palisades burn areas.

Roughly 400 National Guard troops are assisting with road closures, as well as officers from Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Azusa, Irwindale, Whittier and more.

National Guard troops have also been stationed at the request of Azusa Police to maintain a closure of San Gabriel Canyon Road.

All Angeles National Forest roads and trails remain closed until midnight January 15, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Firefighters continue arriving from outside California to assist in fighting all active fires, including firefighters from Oregon, from Frisco, Texas and from Mexico.

A Local Health Emergency has been declared in LA County. A new Health Officer Order prohibits the use of power air blowers, including leaf blowers, as these devices stir up ash and harmful particles, worsening air quality and increasing health risks, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

19 suspected looters have been arrested in the Eaton Fire burn area. Most arrests involved burglary, looting, trespassing, possession of narcotics, identity theft, and one suspect was on active parole and charged with possession of a concealed firearm, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Pasadena Unified schools are closed until January 17.

Los Angeles County is not out of the woods just yet. Critical Fire Weather conditions remain with the threat of high winds extending into Wednesday, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Chief Anthony Marrone.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - Milder winds have helped to stem the growth of the Eaton Fire as crews scramble to gain control of this unimaginably-destructive blaze.

Five residents died and four firefighters have been injured. The fire has burned 10,600 acres and there is 0 percent containment. More than 1,000 structures were destroyed.

Todd Hopkins, incident commander for CalFire, stressed that not just homes and busssinesses, but vehicles, outhouses, etc. are included as structures.

“[Eaton Fire] Growth has been significantly stopped,” according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone.

Effective Immediately, the fire danger level has increased to critical in the Angeles National Forest. The temporary closure of the forest, announced on January 8, is extending through January 15, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Flames are working their way to Mt. Wilson and pose a threat to critical communication towers at the peak.

Large areas of Pasadena and Altadena remain off limits so firefighters can patrol and perform structure protection and fight any remaining fires within urban areas. As of Wednesday night, power was out in many areas affected by the Eaton fire. Traffic lights were also inoperable along many streets in areas closest to the fire

The city of Pasadena issued an Unsafe Water Alert for residents:

“Debris and elevated turbidity from the Eaton Fire potentially impacted Pasadena Water and Power’s drinking water system in the Eaton Fire evacuated areas. The State Water Resources Control Board, Pasadena Public Health Department, and Pasadena Water and Power Water System are advising residents of Pasadena to NOT USE THE TAP WATER FOR DRINKING AND COOKING IN THE IMPACTED AREAS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.”

In an effort to reduce calls for service, the Angeles National Forest is closed

Pasadena authorities also advise the only bottled water should we use for all human and pet consumption until further notice and that you should not attempt to treat tap water yourself.

A high-end Red Flag Warning continue through 6 p.m. Friday in wind prone areas of LA and Ventura counties due to moderate-strong Santa Ana winds and low humidities, according to the National Weather Service.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - Deputies are investigating a shooting that injured two victims Wednesday evening.

Firefighters were investigating a call of an unconscious person inside a home on La Venezia Court east of North Fair Oaks Avenue when a gunshot victim walked up to the firefighters. A few minutes later, firefighters reported an additional gunshot victim, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

The shooting reportedly occurred around 6:20 p.m., December 11.

A possibly-related silver sedan was witnessed traveling southbound on Fair Oaks Avenue towards Woodbury Road and out of view, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department radio traffic.

It is not yet clear how many suspects were involved.

The condition of both shooting victims is not immediately known.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - A male and female died early Tuesday morning after their SUV crashed, rolled over and caught on fire.

First responders were sent to 64 W. Loma Alta Dr. just after 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 5. Initially being told of a vehicle fire, firefighters came upon a black Audi SUV that had crashed and rolled over, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.

The Audi SUV struck one or more parked vehicles before overturning, according to Michael Nasir of the California Highway Patrol Traffic Management Center.

The ages of the male and female were not immediately known to Nasir.

At least one of the occupants was extricated from the vehicle. It is unknown if firefighters or passersby pulled the occupant out of the SUV.

CHP officers requested the county medical examiner to the scene. As of 4:45 a.m., medical examiner investigators had yet to arrive to the scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - Investigators are determining the circumstances behind a man’s death in Altadena Sunday.

First responders were sent to the 2300 block of North Canyada Avenue Sunday, October 8 around 3:10 p.m. The victim, only described as a man, died at the scene.

No further information is available.

Anyone with information on this death is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - The US Forest Service announced Friday that the Millard fire above Altadena is 100% contained Friday.

The Millard Fire burned two acres in the Cobb Estate area of the Altadena foothills near Lake Avenue and East Loma Alta Drive around 5 p.m. July 27. There were no structures threatened, according to the US Forest Service.

The Cobb Estate and Sam Merrill trailheads remain closed, according to the US Forest Service.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

ALTADENA - A 19-year-old man suffered injuries considered not life-threatening after being shot during a brawl near.

Deputies were called just before midnight Saturday, June 3, to the area of East Calaveras Street and North Fair Oaks Avenue on a reported fight in the rear lot of the Foothill Masonic Lodge, 2533 Fair Oaks Ave., according to Sgt. Taylor of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station.

The gunshot victim was transported to a hospital and treated for his injuries, Taylor told SGV CityWatch.

It is not yet publicly clear if any arrests have been made.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner named the man found dead near a hiking trail February 26.

Jeffrey Brown, 61, died from as of yet unknown causes. The determination of what led to his death has been deferred pending additional investigation, according to the coroner.

First responders were called around Noon to a report of a man not breathing in a wash 20 yards of a hiking trail at the first hairpin turn off Pinecrest Drive, according to Lt. Ramirez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Crescenta Valley Station.

It is unclear how long Brown was dead before being discovered.

Brown is assumed to be homeless, according to the coroner.

ALTADENA - A vehicle has crashed through a home Friday evening, causing significant structural damage, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The vehicle crashed through the home in the 2700 block of Santa Rosa Avenue. The circumstances leading to the crash or not publicly clear. It is not immediately known if anyone was inside the house when the crash occurred.

The extent of injuries is not immediately clear.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department is requesting building and safety inspectors to examine the home’s structural integrity.