Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Firefighters made quick work of a small blaze that ignited inside of a gondola car on a freight train rolling through Irwindale Wednesday morning.

Firefighters had easy access to knock out the flames after the train paused near 15546 East Arrow Highway around 1:08 a.m. December 23.

The fire was contained to one gondola and burned only cardboard content, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

No injuries were reported.

The gondolas appeared to be carrying large rolls of wire from one of the businesses to the east of Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area.

The affected railroad line is a spur line operated by Union Pacific Railroad. Trains originate out of the Union Pacific rail yard based in Industry and follow the Metrolink passenger line up into West Covina where the spur line branches off near Azusa Canyon Road south of Arrow Highway.

The spur line, dubbed the Azusa Branch, was once part of the Pacific Electric Railway and was extended after a previous “Red Car” line from Los Angeles to Glendora ceased operations in the early 1950s.

The Azusa branch services one or more businesses east of Santa Fe Dam and also services a business up in the northern end of Azusa.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A man died after being ejected from his motorcycle when he crashed on eastbound Arrow Highway at Live Oak Avenue early Saturday morning, Irwindale police said.

The crash occurred around 12:45 a.m. December 19. The motorcyclist reportedly hit the center divider where the roadway curves to meet Live Oak Avenue. The rider of a 2015 Harley Davidson died at the scene, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The roadway was closed for six hours Saturday morning during an investigation. Officers from Baldwin Park, Azusa and the Glendora police departments assisted with road closures.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation.

Anyone with information on this traffic collision is urged to call the Irwindale Police Department at 626-430-2244.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - About 100 firefighters and five engine companies were aided by a helicopter in knocking down a vegetation fire Sunday morning.

Firefighters were dispatched just before 3 a.m. to the area east of the Lario Staging Area, 3089 E. Huntington Dr., December 6. The fire burned on the east side of Lario along the border with the Vulcan Materials property, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The fire burned one and a half acres, according to Dispatch Supervisor Bernard Peters of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters remained on scene until nearly 11:10 a.m., Peters told SGV CityWatch.

No one was injured and no structures were threatened. Several transients living in the area near the fire were evacuated as a precaution, Irwindale Police said.

The cause remains under investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Descriptions provided by a burglary victim and witnesses helped police track down and arrest a suspect who attempted to enter a home Wednesday.

Sergio Arturo Ravelo, 38, was found by officers at Ellen Drive and Benbow Street in unincorporated Covina after he fled a burglarized home in the 4000 block of Calle Del Sur December 2.

The victim called officers just before 8 p.m. and said someone ripped a screen to a backyard window to try and get inside, but the suspect fled, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.

Once detained, Ravelo was positively identified by the victim and witnesses, Gatto said in a written statement.

Ravelo was also wanted by West Covina Police for resisting arrest. He was booked on suspicion of burglarizing an inhabited dwelling and for the West Covina warrant.

He is being held in lieu of $60,000 bail ahead of a scheduled appearance at the West Covina Courthouse December 4, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

UPDATE, 8:15 p.m.: Deputies confirmed that the girl was found safe around 7:20 p.m. She was at a friend’s home, according to Deputy Joanna Warren of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

IRWINDALE - A 12-year-old girl is likely missing inside Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area in Irwindale.

The girl was reported missing by her father at 6:03 p.m. November 30. She was last seen by her father around 5:30 p.m., according to Deputy Joanna Warren of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The girl is Hispanic and was last seen wearing. blue sweater, blue pants and was seen with a skateboard, Warren told SGV CityWatch.

It was not yet clear what area of Santa Fe Dam she was last seen at.

Deputies from surrounding stations are searching with the aid of a helicopter.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - The driver of a white Chevrolet Cruze died at the scene after crashing into a power pole November 15, police said.

The unidentified driver was eastbound on Lower Azusa Road west of the 605 freeway when, for unknown reasons, her car crossed into opposing lanes and eventually struck a power pole around 5:36 a.m., according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The adult female was found unconscious and unresponsive by Irwindale officers who attempted to save her until paramedics arrived, but were unsuccessful, Irwindale Police said.

Westbound lanes of Lower Azusa Road at the 605 freeway overpass were closed for five hours during the investigation. The cause is under investigation, Irwindale Police said.

Anyone with information on this traffic collision is urged to contact Traffic Investigator Officer Shawn Cory at 626-430-2244 or by email at scory@irwindaleca.gov.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Firefighters extinguished a hopper fire inside of a warehouse after combustible materials inside the machinery ignited Saturday morning.

During the fire fight, the combustible materials caused an explosion. It is unclear how big the explosion was, but firefighters immediately performed an assessment and all firefighters were accounted for and no injuries were reported, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters were dispatched to a metal-clad business at 4414 N. Azusa Canyon Rd. at 5:43 a.m. November 7.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department incident commander for this fire reported the explosion to dispatchers at 6:11 a.m.

During the fire fight, the burning hopper was moved to outside of the building while it still burned to avoid flames from burning the building itself.

While firefighters declared knocked down on the machine at 6:42 a.m., firefighters are possibly continuing to extinguish a secondary fire within the building.

A possible secondary fire may be affecting an area that is 75 feet long and 15 feet high filled with sawdust, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Hazmat technicians determined the suspicious substance found inside an envelope at a SoCal Edison facility as harmless dirt, police said.

Workers were allowed back into the Southern California Edison Gateway Center, 6010 N. Irwindale Ave., around 12:30 p.m. October 29. Nine employees in all self-evacuated from the building. Two of those employees came in contact with the envelope deemed suspicious while sorting mail, according to Sgt. Rudy Gatto of the Irwindale Police Department.

Firefighters were called at 8:14 a.m. Thursday. Los Angeles County Fire Department hazmat units arrived soon after as well as the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s CBRN Hazmat Detail.

Gatto commends the quick work by the SoCal Edison employees who immediately initiated their response protocols after deeming the envelope as suspicious.

“Their employees are trained to find suspicious packages. Kudos to their staff for being cognizant enough and recognizing that there was something suspicious,” Gatto told SGV CityWatch.

The investigation into the source of the envelope and its contents, as well as why the material was sent to the location, is ongoing, Irwindale Police said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A twisted, smoldering wreck that was once a car was lifted from a flood control channel early Thursday morning after it crashed.

Police and firefighters arrived to Miguel Miranda Avenue and Meridian Street sometime around 12:50 a.m. October 22 to find a vehicle engulfed in flames at the bottom of the flood control channel. No occupants of the vehicle was found at the scene, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

It is unclear if investigators have identified the owner of the vehicle, nor is it yet publicly known if the vehicle may have been stolen.