fire: May 2008 Archives

Reporter Caroline An encountered these two dogs on Woodland Avenue Saturday as she was reporting on the Sierra Madre mudslides. An told me she didn't even notice the dogs at first, but was instead "transfixed" by some nearby spring flowers.

Here's her description of the photo:

Two lovely, cuddly dogs kept watch on Woodland Avenue Saturday morning. One of the streets affected by mudsliudes and hail that occurred Thursday. 

Officials at Sierra Madre City Hall declared a state of emergency and planned to seek state and federal assistance to cope with mudslides flowing through neighborhoods that had been assaulted by wildfires less than a month ago.
"At this point the mud has not flowed into people's homes," said Sierra Madre City Manager Elaine Aguilar, who added voluntary evacuations had been declared for residents along Woodland and Skyland drives.
But many ignored the evacuation requests and chose to stay and weather the torrential rains that fell on the area Thursday and Friday, hoping that the runoff from the denuded hillsides would be contained to the streets.
John Stillman said at one point Thursday the mud had reached up to the hood of his white Honda Accord in front of his Skyland Drive home. Down the street, a neighbor's pool was flooded with the brown, sticky stuff.
"I hardly got it out," said Stillman of his car. He chose to stay put as city crews worked until early Friday using a skip-loader to clear the mud flows in front of his home.

As the mud continues to slide down a couple of Sierra Madre streets, reporter Fred Ortega gets busy reporting the news.

Photographer Leo Jarzomb shot this picture Friday May 23, amid the freak late spring rain storm that's pelted the region.

Those guys cleaning the streets are inmates. Fred's the guy with the umbrella.

At least three streets in Sierra Madre have been evacuated as a precaution against flash flooding and mudslides, officials report.

The streets are Skyland Drive, Woodland Drive and Lotus Lane, officials said. An Emergency Operations Center has been opened. Evacuees will be taken there.

The Daily Bulletin reports a brush fire that began in Phillips Ranch Friday about 11 a.m. was 50 percent contained at press time last night. Brush clearance intended to prevent fires apparently caused the blaze.

The photo comes from Bulletin reporter Will Lester with this caption:

Maria and Avsencio Reyes watch a fire burn from the roof of their home on Friday May 16, 2008 in the Phillips Ranch area of Pomona, Calif. (Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Will Lester)

 

Here's an excerpt from an AP story about brush fires and the heatwave:

MOUNT BALDY VILLAGE, Calif. (AP) _ Firefighters braced for more hot and dry weather Saturday as they worked to surround a wildfire that has burned 460 acres of parched brushlands in the San Gabriel Mountains.

The Bighorn Fire on the flanks of Mount Baldy was 72 percent contained, with full containment expected Sunday evening, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Matt Corelli said. No injuries or building damage were reported.

It was among several small but dangerous wildfires that broke out in five Southern California counties this week as the region withered under the influence of a high- pressure system expected to last into the weekend. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory Saturday warning of temperatures reaching up to 105 degrees in some areas.

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Blogged at Foothill Cities

Story at Daily Bulletin

In the News:

Blaze burns on -- from DB.

Winds could fan Mt. Baldy Fire -- from LAT

Crews battle as weather turns -- from AP

On the Blogs:

Still burning -- Fire fighting news

Resists containment -- West Coast 911

Situation Update -- FEMA

Elsewhere:

Mt Baldy Volunteer FD

Shown at left:

Inciweb progression map

As with the last month's Sierra Madre/Santa Anita/Chantry Flats fire, there are several bloggers watching what's going on at Mt. Baldy. And today's apparent flare up 

The Fire, officially dubbed the "Bighorn Wildland Fire"  has burned 310 acres and is about 10 percent contained, according to Inciweb.

From the Blogs:

"Ashes in the sky"

US Forest Service updates from My Murrieta (?)

Still "out of control"

Here's the latest:

ALTADENA - Homicide detectives are investigating the death of an elderly woman found in a Lincoln Avenue home gutted by fire early Thursday, after blood and other signs of a struggle were found at the scene.

Firefighters were dispatched to the home on the 3200 block of North Lincoln Avenue at about 10 a.m. Thursday and found two rooms of the house in flames, said L.A. County Fire Inspector Ron Haralson.

Firefighters knocked down the fire within minutes and found the dead woman inside, Haralson said.

"Right now we have no details about whether she was killed by fire or smoke," said Haralson, adding that there were signs of trauma on the body. He described the woman as approximately 90 years old and of unknown race, but would not release her identity.

But neighbors and relatives identified the woman as Evelyn Mosley, a 90 year old who lived at the location for about six years with her daughter and teen-aged grandson.

"Oh my God, does Sandy know, does her grandson know?" said Jacqueline Jackson, a neighbor, who broke into tears when she heard the news.

A woman who claimed to be the victim's god-daughter also identified her as Evelyn Mosley, and property records show a Sandy Mosley Hamilton living at the address.

Reporter Fred Ortega is on the scene. Here's what he told me earlier:

ALTADENA -- An elderly woman was found dead at a house in the 3200 block of Lincoln Avenue, after firefighters were dispatched to the home Thursday morning.

The woman, who was not identified as believed to be in her 90s, officials said. Her body showed signs of having suffered trauma.

The fire was reported about 10:00 a.m., according to Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Ron Haralson.

Homicide detectives and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's bomb squad have been dispatched to the scene.

No further details were available.