Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Ten PUSD Schools Scheduled to Reopen Thursday

By André Coleman, Managing Editor

[Updated]  Ten schools in the Pasadena Unified School District are scheduled to reopen on Thursday, Jan. 23  following the devastating Eaton Fire that damaged five campuses and forced the evacuation of more than 10,000 of Pasadena Unified School District’s 14,000 students from their homes.

Students will return to Hamilton Elementary, Willard Elementary and Children’s Center, Blair Middle and High School, San Rafael Elementary, McKinley School, Rose City High School, Center for Independent Study, Pasadena Adult Living Skills, Twilight Adult School, and Aveson Global Leadership Academy.

“To accelerate reopening, campuses located further from the fire’s impact will reopen first, allowing the community to begin its path toward healing,” Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco said as she announced the District’s plans to reopen schools.

The School District plans to reopen campuses in phases over a two-week period, with all students back to school by the end of January.

Many students and their families left the area after the fire destroyed thousands of homes in Altadena.

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Winds Challenge Firefighters as Residents Urged to Stay Alert Amid Eaton Fire Efforts

By EDDIE RIVERA

Residents should already be in ‘set’ position for any evacuations

Nearly two weeks after the Eaton Fire erupted in the Angeles National Forest and destroyed much of Altadena, a high wind alert and a rare January red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service have prompted renewed vigilance.

While firefighters have brought it largely under control, as of Monday, the blaze has consumed 14,022 acres and is 87% contained.

However, the incident command station at the Rose Bowl is still busy as officials work to keep the fire within its current perimeter. While containment lines on the southern end of the blaze are secure, three small pockets in the rugged northern terrain still lack complete containment.

“The burning is pretty much in the interior of the fire’s perimeter,” said Daron Wyatt, public information officer for the California Incident Management Team, on Monday.

“There’s no expectation that it will increase in size or move outside its current footprint,

Monday, January 20, 2025

‘Nobody Thought This Could Happen’

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, MANAGING EDITOR

Karina Maturino details the night the fire took everything from her

Like a lot of residents in Altadena, Karina Maturino, 25, has seen fire on the mountain before.

And like many people who have had that experience she assumed the fire would not reach Fair Oaks Avenue and Calevaras Street where she was staying.

The Eaton Fire broke out on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

Driven by extreme wind, the fire destroyed Altadena, killing at least 16 people and burned more than 7,000 structures and scorched 14,117 acres. Firefighters said they reached 33% containment on Monday.

But the job could get harder as more extreme winds are forecast for the early part of the week.

As local residents of Altadena and Pasadena know Fair Oaks and Calevaras is on the ascent to the mountain, but far enough from Eaton Canyon and the locations of previous fires including the Bobcat Fire to justify her assumption.

Monday, January 20, 2025

Officials Hope to Allow Thousands of Altadena Evacuees to Return Home This Week, Weather Permitting

STAFF REPORT

Authorities balance safety concerns with resident needs

At a community briefing Sunday at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles County officials outlined plans to potentially allow thousands of evacuated residents to return to their Altadena properties by the end of next week, though they emphasized the timeline remains heavily dependent on weather conditions and the outcomes of comprehensive safety assessments.

Officials announced Eaton Fire’s burn area was re-calculated to be less acreage and is now listed as 14,021 acres. It was 81% contained, but officials face new challenges with an incoming severe wind event starting Monday.

“The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning beginning tomorrow morning at eight o’clock and continuing through 10 o’clock on Tuesday evening,” said meteorologist Dennis Burns, adding that “particularly dangerous” conditions are expected with valley winds of 20-30 mph and potential gusts up to 80-100 mph in higher elevations.

Seventeen residents have died in the fire,

Monday, January 20, 2025

Local Realtors Open Resource Center for Eaton Wildfire Victims

STAFF REPORT

Support hub to provide housing and insurance guidance through Sunday

The Pasadena-Foothills Association of Realtors has established the Eaton Wildfire Resource Center, committing to help affected individuals and families rebuild and recover from the recent disaster.

Set to operate from January 22 through January 26, the center at 1070 Green Street will provide crucial services to individuals and families seeking to rebuild their lives.

The facility will remain open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with dedicated volunteers offering four specific support services to those impacted by the wildfire.

These services include helping residents access available housing units that suit their needs and providing step-by-step guidance through the leasing process.

Volunteers will also assist residents in understanding their insurance policies and exploring coverage options while connecting them to essential support resources.

“Whether you have questions about securing a temporary home, understanding your insurance benefits, or accessing additional resources,

Monday, January 20, 2025

Beware of Insurance Scams, Officials Warn After Eaton Fire

STAFF REPORT

Authorities urge homeowners with disaster damage to verify adjuster credentials as fraudulent actors target vulnerable residents

City officials are warning homeowners whose properties have been damaged in the Eaton Fire that they may be targeted by scammers attempting to take advantage during this vulnerable time.

Local authorities report that scammers are approaching victims through various channels, including unsolicited door-to-door visits, telephone calls, and emails targeting affected homeowners.

The California Department of Insurance emphasizes that survivors should carefully review adjuster contracts and understand all associated fees, which are typically calculated as a percentage of the insurance claim.

Officials strongly recommend that survivors verify the legitimacy of any insurance adjuster by checking their license status through the California Department of Insurance’s official website.

Residents who encounter suspected insurance scams are urged to report suspicious activity by calling (626) 744-4241, according to the announcement issued on January 19.

Additional information about disaster-related insurance scams can be found at Bit.ly/CADisasterInsuranceScams,

Monday, January 20, 2025

High Winds, Fire Danger to Strike Pasadena Area Monday Through Tuesday

STAFF REPORT

National Weather Service forecasters are warning Pasadena residents of an approaching strong Santa Ana wind event beginning Monday morning, with potentially damaging wind gusts that could reach 60 to 80 miles per hour.

The NWS issued a High Wind Warning for the area from Monday morning through early Tuesday afternoon.

The powerful offshore winds will combine with extremely low humidity to create dangerous fire weather conditions that could persist through Thursday.

Monday morning starts with low clouds across the region, but conditions will change dramatically as strong northeast winds develop, NWS forecasters said.

Temperatures will remain below normal, with daytime highs struggling to reach the mid-60s under increasingly clear skies.

The next 24 to 48 hours will bring significant changes to Pasadena and surrounding areas. Forecasters expect wind speeds to increase sharply Monday afternoon, with the strongest gusts occurring between 4:00p.m. Monday and 1:00 a.m Tuesday.

The La Crescenta-Altadena corridor could see particularly strong ‘mountain wave’ wind activity during this period.

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Altadena Residents, Advocates Call for Just, Equitable Recovery

CITY NEWS SERVICE

A coalition of advocates Friday urged Los Angeles County elected officials for a just recovery for victims of the Eaton Fire, which burned down areas of Altadena — home to a diverse community that contains historically Black neighborhoods and is known for Black generational wealth.

Residents and advocates gathered at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest Black congregations of this denomination in Pasadena, to join a rallying cry for equitable restoration. The Eaton Fire, which started Jan.7, has so far resulted in the deaths of 17 people and stood at 65% containment with more than 14,000 acres burned as of Jan. 17.

During the news conference organized by LA Voice, a multi-racial and multi-faith organization, Pastor Kerwin Manning of Pasadena Church said this is about their community, “our flock,” getting everything they need for restoration.

“At the beginning of this year, Jan. 1, the whole world’s eyes were on us. They were watching the beauty of the Rose Parade and the floats,

Friday, January 17, 2025

Ballmer Group Donates $1M To Aid PUSD Families Affected By Eaton Fire

STAFF REPORT

The Pasadena Educational Foundation has received a $1 million donation from the Ballmer Group to assist Pasadena Unified School District families and staff impacted by the Eaton Fire. The contribution is part of the Ballmers’ broader $15 million emergency relief initiative supporting wildfire recovery efforts across the region.

The Ballmer Group is a philanthropic organization founded in 2015 by Steve Ballmer, former CEO of Microsoft, and his wife Connie Ballmer.

“The Eaton Fire has devastated our PUSD community—families and staff have lost their homes, belongings, and sense of stability. Thanks to the Ballmer Group’s extraordinary generosity, we can provide much-needed relief,” said Patrick Conyers, Executive Director of PEF. “This is just the beginning of what will be a long recovery, and PEF is committed to standing with our PUSD community every step of the way.

The donation will be distributed through the PEF Response Fund, established specifically to provide relief to affected community members. PEF, whose board and staff are deeply connected to Altadena,

Friday, January 17, 2025

Calm Winds Lead to More Fire Containment; Residents Wait to Return Home

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna [LASD][/caption]Calm weather greeted firefighters for another day Friday on the lines of the Eaton and Palisades blazes that have killed more than two dozen people and flattened thousands of structures, allowing crews to extend containment lines and more residents to return to their homes.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said Thursday he understands the desire for people to return, especially if their homes are undamaged and habitable, but he expects it to be “at least another week, and that’s an estimate, but I believe it’s going to be longer than that” before most evacuations are lifted.

While much of the active fire has been doused, Luna and county Fire Chief Anthony Marrone noted that there is extensive work still going on in the fire zones, including securing utilities to ensure safety, removing hazardous wastes from the area and — most delicately — searching for human remains.

“Our search and rescue efforts continue,”