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 - Deputies are investigating a death at Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area Sunday afternoon.

First responders were called around 3:18 p.m. to dam, 15501 Arrow Hwy, Sunday, February 26.

Santa Fe Dam personnel called firefighters to report a person hanging from a tree, according to dispatch supervisor Melanie Flores of the Los Angeles county fire department.

The body was located in or near a tree by the southwest portion of the dam away from an area normally occupied by park goers.

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.

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.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

IRWINDALE - A smoldering fire inside Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area is growing in size with the help of fairly-strong winds Tuesday.

20 to 30-mile-per-hour winds are helping the roughly-two-acre fire to spot roughly one-quarter mile ahead of the main fire, firefighters said at the scene.

Firefighters are entering through West First Street and South Peckham Road on the north side of the dam and are amassing near the nature center.

The direction the fire is moving will have it run into an area where fuels will be late. Firefighters believe that the fire was extinguished yourself out, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic.

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 - Police announced the arrest of a domestic violence suspect found hiding in a transient camp Wednesday.

Steven Anthony Chaffino, a 50-year-old man from Baldwin Park, was booked on suspicion of felony spousal abuse. Police met Chaffino’s victim at a local hospital August 24.

“On arrival, the officers learned that the female victim had been physically assaulted and burned with hot water by a male suspect known to her,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement. The alleged abuse occurred in a transient camp near Huntington Drive and the San Gabriel River August 20.

With the help of a Pasadena Police helicopter, Chaffino was found hiding in a transient camp hidden amongst thick brush in an undeveloped area of Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area one-quarter mile south of Huntington Drive and one-quarter mile east of the river, Irwindale Police said.

Chaffino could be seen peering at police through through a tent and upon seeing the circling police helicopter, he fled on a fire road towards Huntington Drive before being cuffed.

Evidence connecting Chaffino to the crime was found at the transient camp, Irwindale Police said.

Chaffino is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

IRWINDALE - A roughly one-acre fire has sparked at Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area, the second fire in as many days.

The fire is burning in medium to heavy vegetation with winds blowing from the north. No structures are threatened, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

A full brush fire response is being requested, sans aircraft.

A similar brush fire burned inside Santa Fe Dam Recreational Area Saturday, May 16 and burned roughly one acre, initially believed to have started in a transient camp.