Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Residents have been displaced, but uninjured in an apartment fire Monday.

As many as 25 units are affected by the fire that burned at 1375 W. San Bernardino Rd., according to the Covina Police Department.

Los Angeles County firefighters were dispatched just after 9:30 a.m. The fire was soon upgraded to a 2nd-alarm response, doubling resources at the scene. The fire was eventually upgraded to a 3rd-alarm within 30 minutes, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Flames were knocked down around 10:57 a.m.

The West Covina Fire Department and West Covina Police Department assisted at the scene.

It is unclear if a cause has been determined. Investigators with LA County Fire are on scene.

Residents affected by the San Bernardino Road apartment fire in Covina are being evacuated to Covina Park recreation hall, 340 N. Valencia Pl. where additional resources can be found.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Firefighters have knocked down fire in one unit of an apartment complex Sunday afternoon.

The fire, which burned in the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom in one unit of the three-story apartment complex, has displaced 100 people. Firefighters are working to coordinate to get the families some assistance, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

Five people were transported from the apartment, complex, 1159 Conwell Ave., with unspecified injuries, according to fire department radio traffic.

The Los Angeles County fire department was called to respond to the apartment complex at 2:16 p.m. April 7. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - A man was discovered dead after a fire burned near a Covina home December 25.

Firefighters were called to 1138 W. McGill St., at 1:25 a.m. to a single-story home where the fire was burning, according to Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The body of a dead man was found in a burned RV, according to Captain John Kades of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

The fire was knocked down at 1:49 a.m., Peters told SGV CityWatch.

Coroner investigators are still trying to positively identify the victim, Kades told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - One person is dead, a second person refused medical attention after a fire ignited inside a home Sunday.

The fire was dispatched at Noon in the 500 block of E. Tudor St., April 19. Firefighters were initially told the two occupants were unable to escape due to flames blocking a bedroom door. Both victims were eventually taken from the home by firefighters, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

An adult male signed out against medical advice. An adult female with critical injuries later died, firefighters said.

It took 25 firefighters to extinguish the flames in 10 minutes, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Investigators were sent to the scene to determine the cause of the fire.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Police announced the capture of a man who admitted to most recently igniting a destructive fire behind a Walmart.

Jose Javier Salgado, 39, was located at Azusa Avenue and Arrow Highway after three suspicious fires were set. He reportedly admitted to setting the fire at Walmart, according to the Covina Police Department.

Salgado was placed on a psychiatric hold, Covina Police said.

Firefighters were sent to the first blaze behind the Covina Walmart, 1275 N. Azusa Ave., at 10:36 p.m. April 15. Firefighters finally knocked down the blaze at 11 PM, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman.

Cardboard, wood pallets and a forklift burned in the Walmart fire which forced the evacuation of those within, but no injuries were reported, Covina Police said.

At 11:34 PM, firefighters were dispatched to a dumpster fire behind Pupuseria Mi Salvador, 474 E. Arrow Hwy. A third fire was ignited at Hollenbeck Park, 1250 N. Hollenbeck Ave. Firefighters were dispatched at 11:48 p.m. to a dumpster fire, Pitman told SGV CityWatch.

Salgado is suspected in setting fires April 4 at Covina’s Guitar Center, the Covina Bowl, Walmart, Ross and Loan Max, Covina Police said. Salgado is also accused of igniting a fire in the area of Newburgh Street and Azusa Avenue.

Azusa Police captures Salgado after the Newburgh fire, was arrested and placed on a psychiatric hold, Covina Police said.

Anyone with information on these fires is urged to call Covina Police Department Detective K. Hulsey 626-384-5616, or LA Regional Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Refer to Covina PD Incident #20-10369, 20- 10375, and 20-10376.

Covina Police Chief John Curley issued a scathing statement via social media Thursday detailing the failure of the California justice system to keep criminals behind bars:

“10 arson fires in less than 2 weeks and unfortunately in California, “serial arson” is not considered “VIOLENT”....just like human trafficking of a child, rape by intoxication, and many others. Disgraceful to our community,” Curley said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

COVINA - Three fires burned roughly within an hour of each other late Wednesday night, a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch supervisor said.

Firefighters were sent to the first blaze behind the Covina Walmart, 1275 N. Azusa Ave., at 10:36 p.m. April 15. Firefighters finally knocked down the blaze at 11 p.m., according to Los Angeles County Fire Department Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman.

Investigators were called to determine the fire’s cause. Firefighters finally left at 1:15 a.m., Pittman said.

At 11:34 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to a dumpster fire behind Pupuseria Mi Salvador, 474 E. Arrow Hwy. The fire was extinguished quickly.

A third fire was ignited at Hollenbeck Park, 1250 N. Hollenbeck Ave. Firefighters were dispatched at 11:48 p.m. to a dumpster fire, Pitman told SGV CityWatch.

It is unclear if the three fires are connected to each other. Repeated calls to a Covina Police supervisor went unanswered.

It is also unclear if the recent fires are connected to a series of fires sparked April 4. A suspect was detained after fires were ignited along the Azusa Avenue corridor in Covina and Azusa.

COVINA - A possible exterior fire spread to the attic at an apartment complex Sunday morning, firefighters said.

The fire spread to the attic above two units in the 1200 block of Wanamaker Drive around 8:11 a.m., March 1. The fire was extinguished roughly 30 minutes later, according to firefighters at the scene.

Firefighters report one patient at the scene.

COVINA - Homicide detectives are investigating the circumstances that led to  police opening fire on an armed, barricaded suspect Thursday night.

Authorities opened fire on the suspect around 12:43 a.m. and the suspect went down with undisclosed injuries. It was roughly 10 minutes before police approached him since they believed he still held a shotgun, according to Sheriff’s radio traffic.

Los Angeles County firefighters arrived to the 300 block of Vincent Avenue regarding a grass fire call in a field around 9:21 p.m. and encountered a suspect armed with a shotgun. Law enforcement was called and firefighters retreated.

COVINA - A man armed with a shotgun or rifle has taken refuge in the rear yard of a home after firefighters encountered him while fighting a grass fire.

The suspect is in a yard at 4126 North Morada Ave. Firefighters had to briefly evacuate after finding the man with the weapon, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

COVINA - A garage fire destroyed part of a home in Covina early Monday.

Firefighters were dispatched to the fire at 6:37 a.m. in the 500 block of La Serena Drive April 8. All occupants evacuated the home before firefighters arrived.

Flames were knocked down at 7:05 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The fire was contained to a garage. The fire’s cause is under investigation.