Evacuation Warnings Lifted for Some SGV Communities as Bobcat Fire Tears Through Antelope Valley9/21/2020 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The looming threat of destruction from the Bobcat Fire is largely gone for Duarte, Bradbury, Monrovia, Arcadia and Sierra Madre after authorities lifted evacuation warnings over the weekend. The evacuation warnings were lifted at 4 p.m. September 19. The Bobcat Fire has scorched 105,345 acres and is 15 percent contained, according to the Bobcat Fire Unified Incident Command Team. Evacuation warnings remain in effect for Pasadena and Altadena. More than 50 square miles have burned across the San Gabriel Mountains and has made headway into the Antelope Valley where homes and other structures have been turned to ash and rubble. The fire continues to threaten and has destroyed homes in the communities of Juniper Hills, Paradise Springs, Devil’s Punchbowl where evacuation orders remain, according to the Bobcat Fire Unified Incident Command Team. Unfortunately, homes did burn in the Antelope Valley area.
Communities near the burn area under evacuation warnings include Pasadena, Altadena and Wrightwood. For a complete list, click this link. Firefighters continued to hold special emphasis on strengthening fire lines around the Mount Wilson observatory, which is still standing even as the bobcat fire continues to move westward. Southerly winds, sometimes gusting to 20 miles per hour up canyon and 30 miles per hour at the ridges, helped to drive intense fire activity in the San Gabriel Mountains wilderness area. Wind intensity is expected to remain unchanged today. An evacuation center for residents is located at Palmdale high school, 2317 East Ave. R. The Antelope Valley fairgrounds, 2551 W. Avenue H in Lancaster, are open to accommodate large animals. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – The man police accuse of setting the Ranch 2 Fire appeared in court September 11. Osmin Palencia, 36, pleaded not guilty to one felony count each of arson during a state of emergency and arson of a structure or forest, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Police accuse Palencia of intentionally starting a fire that grew to burn 4,237 acres. The blaze, dubbed the Ranch 2 Fire, was reported to authorities around 2:53 p.m. August 13. Azusa Police allege Palencia ignited the fire during an argument. He is apparently a homeless man who lives in a tent near where the fire started at San Gabriel Canyon Road and Ranch Road.
The case against Palencia also includes allegations that he was previously convicted of dissuading a witness in 2015, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Palencia faces a possible maximum of 23 years in state prison if convicted as charged. Palencia is scheduled to return to court December 9. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – The stubborn Bobcat Fire tearing its way through the San Gabriel Mountains is 6 percent contained Friday, the U.S. Forest Service said. 26,368 acres have burned in the steep, rugged mountain terrain since the fire’s inception five days ago. 540 firefighters from surrounding agencies, assisted by helicopters and some fixed-wing aircraft, continue to focus work on the south and north flanks of the fire that continue to grow. Firefighters achieved containment on the eastern flank where the Bobcat Fire ran into the burn scar etched by the Ranch 2 Fire, the U.S. Forest Service said. Two air tankers were able to perform drops of fire retardant Thursday after dense smoke on the south flank above Monrovia lifted. A helicopter and two groups of camp crews were also sent to bolster fire lines there, the U.S. Forest Service said. Overnight, two Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopters equipped with night vision were able to tend to flames on the south flank.
Winds continue to push the fire north towards Crystal Lake. Flames have reached the into the upper ridges near Angeles Crest Highway where fire retardant line have been laid by aircraft, the U.S. Forest Service said. Ground crews will continue to patrol the foothill communities and conduct structure protection and triage efforts, the U.S. Forest Service said. The City of Monrovia has established road blocks along planned evacuation routes and bolstered the areas with additional police patrols to push non-residents and unnecessary traffic out of the area, Monrovia city officials said. Unnecessary vehicle traffic created what Monrovia officials considered public safety concerns and apparently even delayed fire trucks from being able to move from location to location, Monrovia city officials said. Firefighters estimate the Bobcat Fire may be contained by October 15. Zero Containment: Bobcat Fire Chars Nearly 24,000 Acres, Burns Deeper Towards Crystal Lake9/10/2020 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Weather conditions and poor visibility are keeping firefighters from gaining an upper hand on the Bobcat Fire.
23,890 acres have burned in the parched and steep terrain of the San Gabriel Mountains since the fire’s inception four days ago. Firefighters have 0 percent containment, according to the U.S. Forest Service. More than 530 firefighters continue to work on keeping the fire from spreading further south. On the bright side, voluntary evacuation orders for Sierra Madre and Arcadia were lifted Thursday. However, Arcadia residents north of Foothill Boulevard and East of Pasadena remain under evacuation warnings. Evacuation warnings remain in effect for Pasadena, Monrovia, Duarte, Bradbury and Duarte Mesa. The Angeles National Forest remains closed for recreation. Overnight, the Bobcat Fire jumped San Gabriel Canyon Road as it burned heavily northeast. Angeles Crest Highway (State Route 2) is closed eastbound from Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road to Big Pines. San Gabriel Canyon Road (Highway 39) is closed at Old San Gabriel Canyon Road, according to Caltrans. The fire has cast a morbid orange haze over the Southland as the smoke mixes with cloud cover. An unending drizzle of ash and dirt from the burn site continues to sprinkle over the urban landscape. Burning up is mostly old-growth chaparral and tall grass in areas with little to no fire record. Firefighters have no estimate on containing the fire. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor POMONA - The California Highway Patrol arrested a driver September 7 after he allegedly led Claremont Police and CHP officers on a chase throughout the San Gabriel Valley.
Claremont officers initially pursued Anthony Orlando Franco, 33, who was driving in a stolen vehicle. The CHP was notified of the chase as it was west on the I-10 freeway west of Indian Hill Boulevard, according to Officer Rodrigo Jimenez of the California Highway Patrol Baldwin Park Office. CHP officers took over the pursuit of a black 2017 Kia Soul on the west 210 freeway at Grand Avenue, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. The chase took to surface streets through Glendora, Covina, Irwindale, Pomona, La Verne, Claremont, Baldwin Park and West Covina. He also allegedly fled in opposing lanes of traffic, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. The suspect also traversed the I-10, 210, 57, 71 and 605 freeways. The pursuit briefly reentered the 210 freeway eastbound from Sunflower Avenue in Glendora. The CHP attempted to disable the Kia Soul with the Pursuit Intervention Technique, but the vehicle kept moving and exited onto southbound San Dimas Avenue in San Dimas. While westbound in the area of Walnut Avenue and Arrow Highway, the driver reportedly struck the front of a CHP officer’s patrol vehicle, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. The CHP canceled the chase due to the driver’s reckless nature. Claremont officers located the suspect and continued the pursuit into Pomona where the suspect abandoned the Soul and fled on foot at the American Inn & Suites, 310 E. Foothill Blvd. The Kia rolled and crashed into two parked vehicles, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. Franco was caught shortly after running and was medically cleared before being booked at the Inmate Reception Center on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, assaulting a peace officer, felony evading an officer, being in possession of a stolen vehicle and driving under the influence of drugs, Jimenez told SGV CityWatch. Franco was additionally booked for warrants related to felony evading and parole violations. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - The fire burning well above Duarte, now dubbed the Bobcat Fire, has scorched more than 100 acres and is rapidly moving north towards Angeles Crest Highway, according to the US Forest Service.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department is assisting the US Forest Service and has enacted a first alarm response. The fire is moving with a rapid rate of spread and is burning on both sides of the dam, according to the US Forest Service. LA County firefighters are at the damn initiating structure protection. Most, if not all, campgrounds in the surrounding area are being threatened by the fire, including the North Fork area, the East Fork area and Buckhorn Campground, in addition to the West Fork area, the US Forest Service said. The US Forest Service is requesting an additional three helicopters to supplement aircraft already on scene and six more ground crews. The Canadian-leased Super Scoopers are being requested. Firefighters are requesting that all northbound traffic along Highway 39 from the base of the mountain in Azusa to be shut down and turned back. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A well-established fire is burning in the West Fork area of the San Gabriel Mountains.
The fire was observed by the US Forest Service just before 12:30 p.m. September 6. Forest Service firefighters are requesting mutual aid from the Los Angeles County Fire Department as well as a helicopter from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for search and rescue operations, according to the US Forest Service. The fire is burning near the West Fork river area near Cogswell Dam, which rests well above the Duarte and Monrovia communities. There are lots of people enjoying the wilderness in the West Fork area. Earlier in the day, the US forest service was busy ticketing people illegally parked along the roadway. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - An aggressive attack kept the Dam Fire above Azusa from burning out of control Thursday.
Roughly 300 acres have burned near the Morris Dam along Highway 39. The fire scorched heavy brush as it moved north away from the foothills. People were evacuated north of Morris Dam up to Crystal Lake Road. Highway 39 into the Azusa Canyon will remain closed until Sunday, according to the San Dimas Sheriff’s Station. Non-residents will not be allowed up the mountain past El Encanto Restaurant, according to the Azusa Police Department. The fire was first dispatched just before 1:30 p.m. July 30. Firefighters from the US Forest Service and Los Angeles County Fire Department worked for suppress the flames. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LA HABRA HEIGHTS - A 100-foot by 100-foot spot fire is burning along a hillside, Los Angeles County firefighters said Monday.
The fire is creeping uphill near Hacienda Road and East Skyline Drive. The fire has a potential to char two acres. The threat to structures is minimal, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A person was hoisted Saturday after becoming stranded in waist-deep water in the San Gabriel River above Azusa. Firefighters and a rescue helicopter were called to the San Gabriel River one-half mile south of Morris Dam around 4:50 p.m. July 25. One person was located by firefighters, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. A Los Angeles County Fire helicopter arrived by 5 p.m. and hoisted the victim from the moving water. The person was placed on solid ground near the river and was tended to by firefighters before being released. |
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