Arcadia firefighters help with preventive measures near the Cleveland National Forest in fire-ravaged Silverado Canyon. A photo and caption accompany article about wildfires in California.
Nearly all of region's national forest areas, including the Angeles, Los Padres, San Bernardino and Cleveland national forests, reopened yesterday, one week after the expiration of the California regional closure. The forests also lowered their fire danger level from critical to extreme, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The closure order was issued August 31 in response to statewide wildfires. Although the majority of the Angeles National Forest will reopen, a significant part will remain closed due to the 2020 Bobcat fire. The closure order for Angeles National Forest has been in place since September 2020 and remains in effect until April, to allow for affected areas to recover from the 100,000-plus-acre Bobcat Fire. Still closed are Chantry Flat Picnic Area and Buckhorn Campground.
New risk rises from wildfires. Smoke can make people more subject to COVID-19, experts say. Smoke inhalation can weaken the immune system and make people more vulnerable to respiratory infections, including the novel coronavirus. Smoke from nearby Bobcat Fire shrouds Foothill Boulevard in Arcadia (in photo).
New roofs and additions or alterations involving 50% of the total square footage of the roof must conform to Class A standards for buildings in hazardous fire areas, the foothill areas. Home owners in non-hazardous fire areas will be allowed use of either Class A or Class B roofing materials. In addition, alterations or repairs involving 25% or less of a roof area may use any existing material. The Council gave final approval by a three to one vote. (See 1603AN for correction.)
Foothills threatened as Bobcat Fire swells. Santa Ana winds lead to San Gabriel Valley evacuation warnings. The fire started on Sunday, September 6 near the Cogswell Dam and West Fork Day Use area. It had grown to 10,344 acres with no containment by Tuesday evening. It is moving slowly toward the residential areas of Monrovia, Arcadia, or Duarte, but an evacuation warning has been issued for Arcadia.
After months of preparation and more than $300,000 expenditures in the aftermath of the Santa Anita II fires that diverted a wall of mud from homes, the fire-ravaged hillside seemed to be holding despite the rain storms.
The city's efforts to save homes beneath the fire-ravaged hillsides from a flood of mud and debris have been praised, but mud and debris are still flowing onto Highland Vista, Monte Place, Vista and Santa Anita Avenues.
Fall racing begins with empty stands at Santa Anita Park. No in-person cheering as smoke-delayed, 16-day meet begins. Poor air quality from Bobcat Fire forced the delay of the fall meet by one week.
Fish and Game officials met in Arcadia with members of area police to discuss dealing with increasingly visible wild animals, especially bears, who amble into cities bordering Angeles National Forest. Wildfires may drive animals from the mountains.
Levels of reported crime in most San Gabriel Valley cities are significantly lower than national levels, according to the FBI's 2001 National Crime Index. A chart shows statistics for Arcadia.
Santa Anita Park to delay start of fall meet, due to poor air quality of Bobcat Fire, to September 25. The Red Cross is using Santa Anita Park as the evacuation zone for people, including many of our horsemen, whose homes are less than 2 miles from here.
Henry Amparan and David "Casey" Jones are being hailed as local heroes for their quick thinking in using a ladder to lead three people to safety when a fire swept through a second-story apartment at the San Souci complex at 501 East Live Oak Ave.
The much-discussed ordinance governing types of roofs that can be used in Arcadia will be given a second reading at council meeting of August 17 and become effective 30 days later. Ordinance divides city into two zones: hazardous fire area in foothills and non-hazardous in lowlands.
Angeles National Forest fire officials raise fire danger level to extreme, effective Friday, September 2. This change is in response to September's seasonal drying combined with the 5th year of a drought.