Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A victim was found burned beyond recognition in a transient camp fire near the El Monte Station Sunday morning.

It is unclear if the fire was accidental or intentional. El Monte detectives are investigating along with Los Angeles County Fire arson investigators and the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, according to Detective Sergeant Richard Luna of the El Monte Police Department.

The camp fire was reported at 3:01 a.m. September 9 in an empty field flanked by trees about 300 yards east of the El Monte Station, nestled between the I-10 freeway and the  Metrolink railroad tracks.

The fire was extinguished but no body was found at the time, Luna said.

A transient concerned about the well-being of a woman who frequented the camp asked for help in searching the area, Luna said.

Los Angeles County Firefighters responded back to the location, close to 10166 Olney St., around 10:48 a.m., searched the burned wreck and found an unrecognizable body.

“A lot of transients hang out in the area,” Luna said. “Its not uncommon for transients to live in the vacant lot.”

El Monte detectives are waiting for investigations from the Coroner and Los Angeles County Fire arson investigators to determine how the victim died.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators were called as a matter of protocol, but are not investigating the death yet, Luna said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A large commercial building fire was just knocked down after more than an hour-long fight.
 
The fire burned in the vacant building at 3342 N. Santa Anita Ave. Firefighters were dispatched to the one-story commercial structure fire, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
 
Firefighters requested a second-alarm response for additional units to fight the flames.
 
No injuries were reported.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - Firefighters cleared Norwood Library two hours after deeming a suspicious white powder found inside the building as safe.

Firefighters were dispatched to the library at 5:15 p.m. The Los Angeles County Fire Hazardous Materials Team was sent to the library and ultimately determined the substance as not hazardous, said Dispatch Supervisor Michael Pittman of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

“They determined the substance to be non-hazardous, but they did not identify specifically what it was,” Pittman said.

Firefighters cleared the scene at around 7:15 p.m.

El Monte Police Lt. Pete Rasic deferred questions regarding the investigation to the Los Angeles County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Division and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Hazmat Detail which handled the call.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - Los Angeles County firefighters are determining if a suspicious white powder found inside Norwood Library is dangerous or not.

Police were called to Norwood Library, 4550 Peck Rd., around 5:10 p.m. Officers are assisting firefighters at the scene. No one has been injured, according to Lt. Pete Rasic of the El Monte Police Department.

Rasic did not state how the powder was found.

“We’re just working in a support role right now,” Rasic said.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatch center is not answering calls for information.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A 28-year-old driver died in a tremendous crash on Lower Azusa Road and Peck Road Sunday afternoon.
 
The collision occurred around 12:05 p.m. Two patients, one with minor injuries, the other critical, were extracted from the twisted wreck and taken to County/USC Medical Center, according to Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
 
Distracted driving and speeding are believed to be factors in the crash, according to the El Monte Police Department.
 
The crash is still under investigation.
 
The man has yet to be identified. Next of kin has not been notified, according to Investigator Rudy Molano of the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.
 
El Monte Police reminds its residents that April is distracted driving month and officers will be out in full force writing cell phone tickets.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - A fire destroyed 10 vehicles inside an apartment carport early Sunday morning.
 
It was determined that a faulty cellphone charger inside one of the vehicles sparked the blaze inside the carport at 4128 Tyler Avenue, said Lt. Eric Stanley of the El Monte Police Department.
 
The fire was reported just after 3:30 a.m.
 
It was unclear how much damage was caused to the structure itself.
 
No injuries were reported, Stanley said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor

EL MONTE - Weather is a likely factor in two separate collisions that occurred within 20 minutes of each other Sunday morning.

The first collision involved a silver four-door truck that overturned and landed on its roof on the eastbound I-10 freeway offramp to northbound Peck Road around 8:45 a.m. The driver was able to get away without injuries, said Sgt. Aram Choe of the El Monte Police Department.

The overturned truck was ultimately handled by the California Highway Patrol.

The second solo collision occurred on eastbound Valley Boulevard near Durfee at just after 9:02 a.m. A silver car somehow spun out and sheared a fire hydrant. The driver was uninjured, Choe said.

Alcohol and drugs are not factors in either collision, but slick roads are likely to blame, Choe said.

Los Angeles County Firefighters arrived to assist in shutting off the hydrant. Southern California Edison was requested to inspect the integrity of an electrical vault that was continually doused by flowing water.