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.