Out-Of-Area Fires

Fire in Angeles National Forest (Arcadia) off of Santa Anita Rd. So far no homes threatened.

San Diego County: A brush fire in the Tijuana River Valley is under control after burning about 25 acres in two hours, briefly threatening homes.

Brush fires were ignited along the Golden State (5) Freeway at Brand Avenue in Glendale and in the center median of the Ventura (101) Freeway in Sherman Oaks.

Another fire was stoked by high winds at about 11 a.m. near the Prado Flood Control Basin and Prado Dam, but was contained just a few hours later.

(from cbs2.com)

I drove through a fire this afternoon on I-10 just east of the 60. It was a grass fire in the center divider. Traffic was heavy and bumper to bumper just past Yuciapa. They did not stop traffic but the smoke was thick and hard to see for a while. Fire trucks were having a hard time getting to it. The wooden posts were burning under the overpass so the helicopters were unable to get to them. It was quite an experience and really hot when I passed through the burn area. It felt like the a/c had stopped working!
This is going to be a fun year - I can just tell!

Yikes! Isn't it a bit early in the season to have this many fires. Usually they are in the fall. With all the rain and snow we had I would have thought that things would still be moist?

We seem to have had some extremely hot days early this year. Last year it was still snowing in April. Unless we all of a sudden start getting some rain, this is going to be another bumper year for fires.

Scary thoughts. It's been so windy too.

It is Southern Cal... who knows what to expect?

It always seems like the same areas burn on the same days. There was also a small burn on the 330 today. Just seems suspicious to me. I hope if it's a firebug practicing for fall he gets caught.

Okay I know it is early in the morning. The dog woke me up with her barking. This was found in my email
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080427/ap_on_re_us/socal_wil...

Sun Apr 27, 3:00 AM ET


SIERRA MADRE, Calif. - Authorities were evacuating 100 homes as a 100-acre wildfire crept closer to neighborhoods near Pasadena on a hot, dry Saturday in Southern California, authorities said.

The fire about broke out Saturday afternoon and earlier forced the evacuation of a scout camp and left hikers temporarily stranded, said Elisa Weaver of the Arcadia Fire Department.

Firefighters had hoped to have the blaze contained Sunday, Weaver said, but it was still burning out of control late Saturday night.

Fire crews were aided by a dozen engines, three water tankers and three helicopters as they take on the blaze, Weaver said.

Two shelters have been set up in the area for evacuees.

The blaze was reported just after 1:40 p.m. in a wooded area off Santa Anita Canyon Road about 10 miles northeast of Pasadena, Weaver said.

The flames brought the evacuation of the Trask Boy Scout camp and left about 100 hikers stranded in a parking lot near Chantry Flats, Weaver said.

Most of the Boy Scouts had already left the camp by the time the evacuation was ordered, Weaver said.

The hikers were escorted out of the forest by sheriff's deputies, she said. No injuries were reported.

The fire was moving mostly northward, away from homes, but had crept far enough to the south to prompt the mandatory home evacuations.

Flames outlined steep ridges about a mile above Sierra Madre, a San Gabriel Mountains foothill community of about 11,000 popular with artists.

This morning my car was covered with ashes in Pasadena. At church, we have a habit of leaving the front doors open but we had to close them because the smell of smoke was so strong. However, by this evening the smell of smoke has subsided and the ashes are few so I'm hoping they're getting this thing out somewhat quickly.

Just in case anyone is interested, here is the official site of Sierra Madre with updates:
http://cityofsierramadre.com/index.php?mod=city_article&a...

The fire in Sierra Madre is ten times worse this morning. We kept our house closed up over night and, when opening the bathroom window this morning, I though I'd choke from all the smoke that's in the air. Looking east from our house, all I can see is smoke and the red of the fires burning on the hillsides. If it hasn't made it into Pasadena yet, I'd be surprised.

The last time I've seen a fire this bad in this area was in 1993 when it wiped out portions of Pasadena Glen and Kinneloa Mesa (Burt Tibbet from Pasadena, who lost his place up there, was one of the people who counseled a lot of us who lost places in Cedar Glen in 2003). The news says that some of the areas that have been burning haven't burned in 40 years.

Gosh Carol, I just checked on this thread because of my socalfire emails. I thought of you when this fire first broke out. Pasadena has a habit of having a hazy overlay so it must be really bad now.

socalfire
3-4 acres off of Sierra Rojo and Lilac area. Full response at scene.
No immediate structure threat. E72 is Sierra IC on CDF CMD 1. No
further posts unless warrented.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/ci_9083865

SIERRA MADRE - Crews overcame a threatening flare-up during the night and worked Monday to halt a wildfire east of Los Angeles that has sent 1,000 people fleeing their homes.

Water-dropping aircraft were back in the air Monday to complement ground crews as more than 580 firefighters attacked the blaze. Calmer wind and rising humidity were expected to help, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Ed Gililland.

The blaze had charred 490 acres Monday, authorities said. Containment had fallen from 30 percent to 23 percent because the burst of wind during the night pushed flames past some containment lines and within yards of several houses.

SoCalFire@yahoogroups.com

I just got back from the corner of Baldwin Ave. and Mira Monte in
Sierra Madre. The fire was doing its best to come over the little ridge
right at the corner of Baldwin and Carter. It is also very close to the
water reservoirs above the Sierra Madre canyon. Helicopters, tankers,
and ground tankers are hitting the area hard. Will update with photos
soon.

And from Carol's link given above:

Fire Update, Monday, 4-28-08, 11:40 a.m.
As of 1400 hours (2:00 pm) Fire Officials are hoping to be able to let people living east of Camillo back into their homes.

The evacuation area has been expanded westward from Carter and Lima all the way to Michillinda. It is mandatory that anyone north of this area be evacuated.

Road blocks are now set up from on Grandview from Michillinda to Camillo.

20% of Time Warner Customers are without cable (most likely the same people without power who have been evacuated)

Postal service for the evacuation areas will be delivered to the Sierra Madre Post Office.

Senior lunches will be at normal time today.

Trash Services is resuming as normal

One of our teachers found out that she had to evacuate this afternoon. She lives just a couple of blocks above the Sierra Madre town center on Baldwin. However, the smoke seems to have subsided over the last couple of hours so I'm taking that as a good sign. The latest I heard is that Thursday is the earliest they're looking at containment.

sierra madre fire www.cityofsierramadre.com is where i have been getting my inof on this fire, for all those that have family in that area, the fire is still moving to the north and there are 1055 fire fighters working this fire, they dont expect full containment untill may 2nd,, its 57 % contained right now but things can change really easy, there is still 150 homes that have still be evacuated,

more as this comes in . Thank You goes out to the fire fighters who have a tough job on their hands as the terrain is very difficult and steep to work.. ** stay safe**