Hikers and scouts were briefly trapped by flames, and homeowners in Sierra Madre were given the option to evacuate, due to a brush fire which started in a wooded area about one mile north of Arno Drive in north Arcadia around 3pm yesterday. The fire has burned more than 100 acres.
A brush fire that started Saturday in Santa Anita Canyon is being referrred to as the Santa Anita Fire. The fire is still raging in the mountains above Sierra Madre and Arcadia. It has destroyed 400 acres, forced the evacuation of 1000 people, and forced Sierra Madre to close its schools. Officials say it could take 4-7 days to contain the fire.
Calmer winds helped firefighters battling the 538-acre Santa Anita Fire yesterday as crews focused on protecting homes and stopping a creeping western edge of flames that forced evacuations in neighboring Pasadena. Also see two accompanying articles on the front page.
Chantry Flat Road, also known as Santa Anita Canyon Road, will reopen to the public on Wednesday, April 16, despite unfinished repairs. Fire in the Santa Anita Canyon had forced a 6-month closure of the road.
Firefighters have gained the upper hand on the Santa Anita Fire yesterday after it had burned a total of 584 acres. Officials lifted mandatory evacuations throughout the area. A timeline of the fire is on page 11.
U. S. Forest Service officials met with cabin owners and residence permit holders to hear concerns regarding evacuation of the Big Santa Anita Canyon area.
Several cities including Arcadia, Monrovia and Sierra Madre and Los Angeles County are coordinating efforts to repair damage from heavy rains on Chantry Flat Road. Arcadia owns two stretches of the road. Arcadia and Monrovia are asking FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for funds.
Kim Kelley, owner of the Adams pack station near Chantry Flat, has decided to sell the historic station for financial reasons. The heavily damaged roads to Big Santa Anita Canyon have hurt her business.
Construction has started on the expansion of the Westfield Shoppingtown Santa Anita. There will be two parking structures to replace current surface parking, 104,400 square feet of retail space, 18,400 square feet of restaurants, a 7,800 square foot food court, 45,000 square feet of specialty stores, 54,300 square feet of movie theaters, and a 5,400 square foot auto center. The tenant list includes an AMC theater, Borders bookstore, and a Sports Chalet. The expansion is scheduled to be completed September 2004. City manager Bill Kelly said Arcadia will proceed to expand Fire Station 105 to serve as the new fire department headquarters and will rebuild Station 106. The city is considering building a new City Hall and youth center from city revenues from Santa Anita Park. The new police station, the first city facility partly financed through bonds, will be open this fall. A $1/2 million project to remodel City Council Chambers is finally complete, with the opening of the council conference room.
A house fire on Canyon Road in Arcadia caused about $1 million in damage. Photographs show the home and firemen Michael Baily (Monrovia Fire Department) and Craig Stogner (Arcadia Fire Department).
One man died and a teenage boy was critically injured Sunday in a suspected arson fire at an abandoned house on the 100 block of West Longden Avenue in Arcadia.
This month's heavy rainstorms triggered as many as 18 mudslides. The first major slide deposited 6000 cubic yards of mud on a section of road in Arcadia. The road to Chantry Flat is closed until further notice.
Because of budget cuts, the nearly 50-year-old Santa Anita Courthouse jail in Monrovia is expected to close. According to Arcadia Police Chief David Hinig, the closing of the Santa Anita Court will follow within months. Closing of the lockup will affect both Arcadia and Monrovia police departments.
Plans are underway for "Peacock Corner" at the fountain and entrance at Arcadia County Park at Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive. The bronze peacock will be 8 feet tall.