Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Two men accused of sparking the Morris Fire above Azusa last year pleaded no contest Thursday to recklessly starting a fire and were sentenced. Christopher Paul Ortega, 21, from Glendora, and Santino Francisco Gnaulati, 22, from Covina, were immediately sentenced after their plea. Ortega was sentenced to 16 months in state prison, to be served in county jail. Gnaulati was sentenced to three years formal probation upon the condition he serve 180 days in county jail, according to Venusse Navid of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The men ignited the one-quarter-acre Morris fire near Morris Dam in the 9500 block of North San Gabriel Canyon Road August 7, 2018 near a turnout. Los Angeles County firefighters were dispatched to assist the U.S. Forest Service at 2:53 a.m.
Firefighting helicopters from both county fire and the U.S. Forest service assisted ground crews. A suspicious white truck was seen in the area at the time the fire ignited. Power lines were compromised near the fire and inhibited the firefight, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. Good Samaritans followed Ortega and Gnaulati from the scene as they fled in a white GMC pickup down San Gabriel Canyon Road until they got cell phone service to call authorities. Ortega and Gnaulati were taken into custody by San Dimas Sheriff’s deputies after they were detained by Azusa Police officers on Sierra Madre Avenue west of Azusa Avenue, according to Sgt. Pete Shupe of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s San Dimas Station. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - Firefighters from multiple agencies continue their work on the Fork Fire, burning in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Azusa and Glendora.
The fire has charred 166 acres with zero percent containment, although the work put forth by firefighters has stopped the forward progress of the flames, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The fire, which was reported just before Noon September 9, forced hundreds of campers to evacuate the Off-Highway Vehicle Area and campgrounds near the fire at East Fork Road and San Gabriel Canyon Road (Highway 39), according to the U.S. Forest Service. One firefighter received a leg injury caused by a falling rock, according to Nathan Judy of the U.S. Forest Service. The U.S. Forest Service was assisted by Los Angeles County Firefighters, CAL FIRE, the Orange County Authority, Santa Barbara County firefighters, the California Highway Patrol, Cal Trans, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies and Southern California Edison in coordinating the evacuation response and fire fight. Power lines were compromised in the area have been restored. San Gabriel Canyon Road two miles north of Sierra Madre Boulevard remains closed. The fire’s cause is under investigation. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A fire burning in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Azusa and Glendora is holding at about 60 to 70 acres, the U.S. Forest Service announced.
The Fork Fire is burning northwest along Highway 39 near East Fork Road. There is no containment on the fire, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Campers and recreational vehicles are being evacuated from nearby campsites, as well as the Off-Highway Vehicle area, the U.S. Forest Service said. Many evacuees are being directed northbound along Highway 39 to Angeles Crest Highway with the assistance of Sheriff’s search and rescue teams from San Dimas Mountain Rescue, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue Team and Montrose Search and Rescue Teams. Nortbound and southbound traffic on Highway 39 is closed at East Fork Road, as well as traffic on East Fork Road, Glendora Ridge Road and northbound traffic on Glendora Mountain Road. Southbound traffic on Glendora Mountain Road is open for evacuees to exit, according to the California Highway Patrol. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - The U.S. Forest Service is responding to a 50-acre brush fire that ignited near the Off-Highway Vehicle area along Highway 39 north of Azusa.
The U.S. Forest Service is initiating a second-alarm brush response and is requesting handcars and a helicopter from the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The U.S. Forest Service is reporting flames on both sides of Highway 39. Patrons of the Off-Highway Vehicle area are being evacuated on East Fork Road. The Off-Highway Vehicle area may be evacuated, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The California Highway Patrol is being summoned to close portions of Highway 39. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - U.S. Forest Service Firefighters knocked down a fully-involved vehicle fire in the Azusa foothills Monday.
The vehicle began burning around 5:55 p.m. at the Off-Highway Vehicle area along San Gabriel Canyon Road. The call was initially dispatched as a brush fire, but upon arriving, firefighters discovered a vehicle fire mere feet from the brush, according to U.S. Forest Service radio traffic. U.S. Forest Service firefighters were able to knock down the vehicle fire by 6:17 p.m. The type of vehicle that burned was not disclosed. A person described as the operator of the vehicle received burns to his arms, but he refused medical treatment, the U.S. Forest Service said. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - U.S. Forest Service firefighters and Los Angeles County Firefighters are still on scene of a small brush fire that ignited in the San Gabriel Mountains Tuesday.
The fire burned near Morris Dam in the 9500 block of North San Gabriel Canyon Road. Los Angeles County firefighters were dispatched to assist the U.S. Forest Service at 2:53 a.m. The California Highway Patrol has traffic blocked on San Gabriel Canyon Road. While firefighters are trying to determine the fire’s origin, a suspect white truck was seen in the area at the time the fire ignited. Power lines were compromised near the fire and inhibited the firefight, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. About 104 customers are without power, according to Southern California Edison. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - The “Mountain Fire” above Glendora has charred one acre in a steep ravine since it sparked after a solo vehicle collision early Saturday.
The fire is holding at one acre in heavy brush and steep terrain, according to Chief Robert Garcia of the U.S. Forest Service, which is the agency leading the firefight. The collision occurred just before midnight along Glendora Mountain Road just south of mile marker 8.02. A vehicle went over the side of the road and came to rest 150 yards in a deep ravine. Thick smoke from the fire prevented first responders from finding the vehicle initially, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department radio traffic. The patients, only described as a man and woman, were able to climb out of the vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol. The patients, both of whom suffered severe burns on their body, were hoisted from the mountainside by helicopter. One patient was taken to Brackett Field in La Verne via helicopter, which was low on fuel, to a second waiting helicopter, which transported the victim to County/USC Medical Center. The second patient was flown directly to County/USC as well. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor ARCADIA - The U.S. Forest Service has raised the fire danger level across the Angeles National Forest to “Very High,” officials said Friday.
Annual grasses have cured, temperatures have risen and the drop in relative humidity has forced officials to increase the fire danger level as a means to spread public awareness. No new campfire restrictions are in place, however. Open wood and charcoal fires will still be permitted in approved “developed” campgrounds and picnic areas where a steel ring or stoves are provided. Propane or jellied gas stoves and grills are permitted in non-developed areas with a valid California Campfire Permit, the U.S. Forest Service said. Smoking is allowed in enclosed vehicles or developed recreation sites only. Drivers in the forest should stay on designated roads and never park on dry brush or grass, to avoid the risk of starting a fire, the U.S. Forest Service said. The use of fireworks in the Angeles National Forest is prohibited, including all other forest system lands. Violators will face a $5,000 fine, six months in jail or both, the U.S. Forest Service said. “Anyone causing a wildfire is liable for all costs of suppressing the fire,” the U.S. Forest Service said. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - A motorcyclist received trauma-level injuries after colliding with a car on Glendora Mountain Road Sunday morning.
The crash occurred on Glendora Mountain Road at Glendora Ridge Motorway around 11:35 a.m. The U.S. Forest Service, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department all responded to the scene. Tactical medics from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau packaged the patient and transported him to a nearby trauma center for treatment. Written by AARON CASTREJON | CityWatch Editor MOUNTAINS - If you see smoke, there is fire, but the U.S. Forest Service has it under control.
A prescribed burn will be taking place until about 6 p.m. May 29 in the Johnstone Peak area of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. The burns will continue through May 31, according to the U.S. Forest Service. |
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