Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 7:27 p.m.: Firefighters have stopped forward progress of the Gabriel Fire at 30 acres. The Fire is at least 60 percent contained.

IRWINDALE - A reported 10-acre brush fire is burning inside Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area.

The fire is reportedly burning in a northerly direction and is potentially threatening structures.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has sent a full brush fire assignment along with two helicopters.

A second alarm has been requested, which would double resources at the scene.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A Baldwin Park man was booked on suspicion of arson, accused of lighting a destructive fire Monday night.

A security guard at a business in the 13900 block of Live Oak Avenue reported a man lighting bushes on fire near a commercial business just before 8 p.m. November 13.

The preliminary estimated value of the damage is $4,000, according to Sgt. Cornejo of the Irwindale Police Department.

Angel Barraza, 34, was found after a search and the security guard identified Barraza as the man who set the fires, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Barraza was arrested at 8:18 p.m. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina Superior Court Wednesday, November 15, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - The destructive warehouse fire that burned near Arrow Highway and the 605 freeway October 9 killed four people, the Irwindale Police Department said.

Investigators believe an illegal butane honey oil extraction lab was being operated inside the warehouse At 1418 E. Arrow Highway. Witnesses reported that at least one individual fully-engulfed in flames was seen running from the building. After the fire was extinguished, the charred remains of three males were found, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The person seen running from the building was found nearby. He was taken to a hospital for treatment, but later died.

“Due to the suspicious nature of the fire, an outside law enforcement task force was requested, responded to the scene and took over the investigation. The investigation as to the cause of the fire is ongoing,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement.

Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call Irwindale Police Detective Nicholas Lopez at 626-430-2239, or by email at [email protected]. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

IRWINDALE – A Baldwin Park man was arrested July 10, four days after allegedly igniting a destructive blaze at an Irwindale business.

Jose Carlos Estrada, 41, is accused of igniting a fire that burned up a stack of more than 200 plastic pallets, steel shelving material and a metal shipping container July 6. The property burned behind a closed business in the 5300 block of North Irwindale Avenue just before 1 a.m., according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Surveillance video of the arson helped investigators identify the suspect who had previous run-ins with Irwindale officers.

A patrol officer located Estrada driving a vehicle near Irwindale Avenue and Foothill Boulevard July 10 around 5:10 p.m. After a traffic stop, officers found items in Estrada’s vehicle tied to the arson. Also found was drug paraphernalia, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Firefighters saved the business, but the loss from burned property is estimated at nearly $10,000, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

Estrada is being held at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles in lieu of $50,000 bail. He was scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina courthouse July 12.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - There is no threat to the community after a small brush fire ignited at Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area Thursday afternoon.

The fire is holding at two-acres. The fire was nestled between the San Gabriel River Bikepath and the San Gabriel River. Firefighters were first dispatched at 5:22 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters announced that they have hose lines completely around the fire and forward progress has been stopped at 6:18 p.m.

A water-dropping helicopter from the Los Angeles County Fire Department is using Encanto Park as a staging area, according to the City of Duarte.

Firefighters were getting into contact with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to provide assistance to those living in the riverbed.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - Homicide investigators are determining what led to the death of a woman who was found deceased near Azusa Canyon Road and Cypress Street Wednesday night.

The death was reported to authorities at 10:50 p.m. March 2, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

It is not yet publicly clear how the victim, described by Homicide detectives as a Black female adult, died.

At 10:45 p.m., firefighters were called to extinguish a 10-foot-square grass fire at the same location. Callers reported a possible body at or near the scene of the fire, according to a dispatch supervisor with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, who seemed unsure if firefighters on scene confirmed a body was found.

A fatal crash occurred there February 20 after a westbound vehicle on Cypress jumped the curb at Azusa Canyon Road, broke through a chain link fence and plunged roughly 180 feet into the Olive Pit mine.

IRWINDALE – A four-acre brush fire was quickly stopped after igniting in the San Gabriel Riverbed Monday afternoon.

There were no injuries and no structures were threatened in the small fire that was dispatched to firefighters at 3:45 p.m. October 4. Firefighters on the ground were assisted by two helicopters, one of which performed water-dropping duties.

The only major threat came from an intense storm cell, which produced lightning just one mile south of the fire, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

Huntington Drive between Encanto Parkway and Irwindale Avenue was blocked for several hours while firefighters worked.

IRWINDALE – No one was injured and no structures were damaged after a brush fire scorched 26 acres at Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area August 1.

Crews on the ground and in the air kept the brush fire from growing larger. The fire also slowed after creeping up to the Miller Brewery property line.

The fire was dispatched just before 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Arriving firefighters reported seeing smoke several miles away and immediately called for a full first-alarm brush fire, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Crews on the ground had structure protection measures in place to protect the brewery, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The fire appeared to burn in an area west of the Dam’s nature center, an area known for homeless encampments and frequent brush fires.

Several engines remained on scene to conduct a fire watch over the course of the night and into the morning.

The cause is under investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

4:56 p.m.: Roughly 15 acres of vegetation have burned at Santa Fe Dam, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Two helicopters have arrived on scene to aid crews on the ground.

IRWINDALE - A grass fire with a rapid rate of spread is burning inside Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area in Irwindale Sunday afternoon.

As of 4:35 p.m., roughly one half acre has burned inside the dam. Units en route to the dam could already see a very large smoke column from several miles out. A full first alarm brush response is being sent to the Dam, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

UPDATE, 4:27 p.m.: The Fire has burned 12 acres and is roughly 5 percent contained, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

​About 25 to 30 homeless living in the area of the fire were evacuated.

As a precaution, firefighters have ordered Santa Fe Dam closed, even though the fire is moving northeast.

IRWINDALE - A 10-acre brushfire is burning inside Irwindale’s Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighters were dispatched at 2:52 PM. The fire is currently running northbound and no structures are threatened, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Irwindale police are also on scene at the brushfire and report that no evacuations are ordered.