Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A joint operation between the Azusa Police Department, Irwindale Police Department and California Highway Patrol yielded nearly 100 citations all in an effort to curb dangerous speeding in the canyon area.
The enforcement operation, organized by the Azusa Police Department traffic division, ended the day March 7 with 107 traffic stops for various vehicle code violations, Including speeding and equipment violations. 97 citations were issued and two vehicles were impounded, according to the Azusa Police Department. The unfortunate operation came as a result from numerous community complaints of speeding vehicles and motorcycles within the city racing to and from the canyon area, Azusa police said. “The Azusa Police Department Traffic Division continues to work diligently in addressing traffic violations within the city of Azusa. More traffic operations to come with funding from a grant by the Office of Traffic Safety & NHTSA,” according to the Azusa Police Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - The man sought for allegedly igniting the 2,256-acre Ranch 2 Fire turned himself in to police Sunday.
Osmin Palencia, 36, surrendered himself to Azusa officers, according to the Azusa Police Department in a written statement. Investigators from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Azusa Police quickly learned after the fire erupted that arson was to blame. Police did not state how Palencia became a suspect. Palencia is a transient who lives In the San Gabriel riverbed near where the fire erupted, Azusa Police said. Booking information for Palencia was not readily available. Biggest Challenge: Scorching Heat as Firefighters Gain 3 Percent Containment on Ranch 2 Fire8/15/2020 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Ground crews continue building containment lines around the Ranch 2 Fire burning in treacherous terrain in the Azusa mountains Saturday.
Firefighters have further revised acreage burned to 1,400 with 3 percent containment. Crews will have greater emphasis on building containment lines on the northern flank of the fire to prevent deeper spread into the wilderness, according to the US Forest Service. Greater containment lines were established on the south side of the fire overnight near the gated Mountain Cove community as minimal fire activity occurred near the homes. Firefighters will scout for topographical features to aid in extending containment lines, the US Forest Service said. Weather over the next four days will be the biggest challenge for ground crews. Temperatures will be in the low hundreds Saturday through Wednesday. Humidity is expected to be from 17 to 22 percent. Thunderstorms and unstable winds are possible Saturday, the US Forest Service said. Due to the Ranch 2 Fire and fire weather conditions in the San Gabriel Valley, Highway 39 remains closed from Sierra Madre Avenue to East Fork Road. Glendora Mountain Road is closed from Big Dalton Road to East Fork Road. Glendora Ridge Road is closed from GMR to Mt. Baldy Road. Santa Anita Canyon Road is closed from Arno Drive to Chantry Flats Road. Azusa Police and Los Angeles County Fire investigators suspect arson as the cause of the Ranch 2 Fire. Police named local transient Osmin Palencia, 36, as an arson suspect. He lives in the San Gabriel riverbed near the origin of the fire. Palencia is considered violent and people should avoid contact. Anyone with information on Palencia’s whereabouts is urged to call Azusa Police at 626-812-3200. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - Police and Fire investigators are looking for a man they say is connected to the fast-moving Ranch Fire.
Los Angeles County Fire Department arson investigators and Azusa officers immediately worked to determine the origin of the fire and deemed it as arson, according to the Azusa Police Department. Osmin Palencia is a 36-year-old transient who lives in the San Gabriel riverbed near the origin of the Ranch Fire. Palenica is said to have violent tendencies and people should use caution if they see him, Azusa Police said. Anyone with information on Palencia’s whereabouts is urged to call the Azusa Police Department at 626-812-3200. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - The Ranch Fire scorching the Azusa Canyons continues to move north in the San Gabriel Mountains Friday.
After a better assessment of fire activity, authorities now say 2,500 acres have burned. No containment has been reached, according to the US Forest Service. “Fire activity is expected to increase today due to forecasted weather conditions,” the US Forest Service said. Evacuees from the Mountain Cove gated community were allowed to return home after orders were lifted at 11 p.m. Thursday, according to the Azusa Police Department. The Ranch Fire was first reported around 2:45 p.m. August 13. The fire ignited along Highway 39 and Ranch Road, near homes nestled in the San Gabriel Mountains. Roughly an hour into the firefight, some residents of Mountain Cove were issued a mandatory evacuation order. Certain residents were under voluntary evacuations, according to the Azusa Police Department. As the day progressed, the Fire, while still posing a threat, inched away from homes. 200 fire personnel are on scene. Fire vehicles will remain in the area for the next three days to monitor fire activity. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - All Mountain Cove residents are being asked to evacuate after a rapidly-spreading brush fire has ignited.
The fire is burning along San Gabriel Canyon Road bear Ranch Road. The fire is roughly 30 acres and growing, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Mountain Cove area north and west of Turning Leaf are under mandatory evacuations, according to the Azusa Police Department. No traffic will be allowed north towards the Mountain Cove gated community, according to the Azusa Police Department. The fire has a potential to burn 1,000 acres, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - 50 to 90 truck trips per day are expected while construction of a new mountain bridge continues in the San Gabriel Mountains.
The California Department of Transportation is replacing the existing North Fork San Gabriel River bridge. The construction, which is scheduled to finish in Winter of 2021 or 2022, will run Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to Caltrans. The Super 10 trucks will haul road backfill from Vulcan Materials! 16001 E. Foothill Blvd. in Irwindale, East on Foothill, North on Todd Avenue, East on Sierra Madre Avenue and North on Highway 39, Caltrans said. The bridge is being built 40 feet south the existing one, which will be demolished, Caltrans said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - A quarter-acre brush fire has ignited above Azusa, firefighters reported. The fire is burning in light to medium vegetation on flat terrain in the 2000 block of North San Gabriel Canyon Road, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The source of the fire, dispatched to firefighters at 12:13 a.m., was not specified. Initially a full brush fire response complete with helicopters was requested, but just several units are able to extinguish the flames, firefighters said. Email Newsletter! | Advertise! | Donate! BREAKING NEWS: Suspect Accused of Stealing Prius After Social Media Setup Arrested in Azusa2/7/2019 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA - The man accused of shoving his social media date into the San Gabriel River and taking er car was found and arrested, a Sheriff’s lieutenant said Thursday. Detectives identified the man through the Facebook name the suspect gave the victim and located him in the 200 block of North Vernon Avenue, according to Lt. mark Skaggs of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. Detectives arrived to the neighborhood around 10:20 a.m. and arrested the suspect after obtaining his address, Skaggs said.
Mountain View Elementary School, across the street from the arrest, was briefly placed on lockdown. The stolen Prius was found at the suspect’s residence and recovered, Skaggs said. The suspect has yet to be booked, His name, age and city of residence are not yet available. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor AZUSA – A man was found dead above Azusa January 13 after he had not been seen for three days. Juan Carreon, 35, was reported missing on January 10 in Azusa. His body was found about one and one-half miles north of where his vehicle was parked at Highway 39, according to San Dimas Sheriff’s Station Sgt. Pete Shupe. Carreon shot himself and his death was ruled a suicide, according to Los Angeles County Coroner Lt. David Smith. San Dimas deputies located Carreon’s vehicle legally parked in a turnout on Highway 39 at mile marker 28 and it was parked in the same spot days before deputies returned to identify the owner, Shupe said.
Deputies learned Carreon was a critical missing person after arriving to his Azusa residence to find Azusa Police taking a missing persons report, Shupe said. San Dimas Mountain Rescue, and rescue teams from surrounding communities, searched for Carreon. His body was found at 10:32 a.m. January 13. |
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