Friday, January 10, 2025

In Wake of Local Fires, YMCA of Pasadena City College and Metropolitan Los Angeles Join Forces to Help Community in Need

Courtesy of YMCA Metropolitan Los Angeles

The YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles and Pasadena City College have partnered to distribute free essential supplies to community members impacted by local fires.

The distribution is taking place Thursday, January 9, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, January 10, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the Colorado campus of Pasadena City College in Lot 3 (near the corner of Del Mar Boulevard and Hill Avenue). The public is welcome.

Items available for distribution include pre-packaged snacks, water, hygiene kits, baby supplies, pet food, and clothing.

“There is tremendous need in our community right now,” said Pasadena City College Superintendent-President José A. Gómez. “We want to do everything we can to help those who are suffering. We care deeply about our neighbors and our community.”

Victor Dominguez, President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, said the organization has a 142-year tradition of serving Los Angeles and is working to “rebuild,

Friday, January 10, 2025

PUSD Launches Drive-Through Meal Service At Three School Sites on Friday

STAFF REPORT

The Pasadena Unified School District is launching a new drive-through meal distribution program starting Friday, January 10.

The initiative results from distribution problems caused by the Eaton Fire. ,

Organized by PUSD’s Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) the program will provide breakfast and lunch to all district families at three designated district-wide school hub locations.

“We are here to support you and your family and we will continue to share resources as the information becomes available,” said Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco and Food and Nutrition Services Director Elizabeth Powell.

Here are the School Hubs that will offer the meals:

McKinley School
325 S. Oak Knoll Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101

Madison Elementary
515 Ashtabula St.
Pasadena, CA 91104

Field Elementary
3600 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91107

The district emphasizes that meals are for pick-up only and cannot be consumed on site.

Parents and guardians are instructed to remain in their vehicles during pickup,

Friday, January 10, 2025

Board of Supervisors Chair Barger, Sheriff Luna Announce County Will Call National Guard and Implement Curfews to Combat Looting

STAFF REPORT

To protect residents who have been displaced by wildfires, Board of Supervisors Chair Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Sheriff Robert G. Luna announced today that they requested the support of the California National Guard and will be implementing curfew hours to keep looters at bay.

“Residents who’ve evacuated have faced unimaginable devastation, displacement, and loss,” Chair Kathryn Barger said. “We must stand up against opportunistic people who want to prey on these victims. Los Angeles County will not stand by and allow an already traumatic experience to be further compounded.”

As of Thursday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Department had arrested 20 people for looting. The Sheriff said local law enforcement has been working around the clock to protect residents’ property and the 400 National Guard members who will be deployed will expand the efforts already underway.

The National Guard is expected to deploy as early as Thursday evening and will be helping local law enforcement with traffic control and critical infrastructure protection.

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Supervisor Barger Urges Residents Affected by Wildfires to Access FEMA Resources

STAFF REPORT

As thousands of residents in Los Angeles County suffer from devastation and displacement as a result of several wildfires, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Supervisor Kathryn Barger has urged residents to take advantage of the FEMA resources available to them.

“Residents affected by the Eaton Fire, Palisades Fire, and others have had their lives completely upended,” Chair Barger said. “We are working with our federal partners to draw down every resource available to ensure our residents can recover and rebuild as soon as possible. I encourage our neighbors to get a jumpstart on the process to begin receiving support as early as they can.”

President Biden approved a Major Disaster Declaration on Jan. 8 to supplement recovery efforts and allow residents to draw down funding to address their disaster-related needs. Funding can pay for essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medications, and other emergency supplies.

Additionally, funds can help with housing needs such as temporary hotel stays,

Thursday, January 9, 2025

The Moment the Eaton Fire Ignited

By JAMES MACPHERSON

Pasadena couple saw the start of the Eaton Fire, called 9-1-1, alerted neighbors, and took two photographs, before fleeing flames

A Pasadena couple who witnessed the initial moments of the devastating Eaton Fire on Tuesday evening called 9-1-1, alerted neighbors, and took cell phone photographs before grabbing go-boxes and fleeing the racing flames.

Jennifer Errico and her husband Marcus, residents of the 2100 block of Canyon View Drive at the very end of a point that juts out into Eaton Canyon, were among the first to spot and report a wildfire that has grown into one of the most devastating fires in County history.

“My husband came home at 6:15 and ran in and said the … electrical tower that’s across the canyon and up from us, is on fire,” Jennifer Errico told Pasadena Now. “I called 9-1-1 and within 10 minutes the fire was down across the canyon.”

Errico is Director of Communications for Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge and a former Pasadena Star-News writer.

Thursday, January 9, 2025

LA-Area Hotels Offering Discounted Rates, Accepting Pets in Response to Fires

CITY NEWS SERVICE

Looking to help people displaced by fire-related evacuations, numerous hotels in L.A. County and in Temecula continued Thursday to offer discounted rates and accept guests with pets.

The Hotel Association of Los Angeles’ Board of Directors said members are taking in thousands of people displaced by the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst fires.

“Our hotels are also donating bedding and personal care items to temporary shelters,” the board said in a statement. “We stand ready to continue assisting Angelenos and first responders during the crisis.”

As of 11 a.m. Thursday, more than 75 hotels in L.A. have availability, and many are providing discounts, according to HALA. The organization recommends hotels in Temecula may be good options for the elderly or anyone who is seriously impacted by poor air quality.

Hotels with availability include the Air Venice, The Live Hotel, The Pierside Santa Monica, Hollywood Hotel, The Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, Hilton Woodland Hills, Pacific Palms Resort,

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Deadly Eaton Canyon Fire’s Advance Slows, Still No Containment

STAFF REPORT

Authorities provide few new details

Some evacuation orders in Glendale were lifted Thursday as fire crews worked to establish containment around a 10,600-acre brush fire in the Eaton Canyon area that has left at least five people dead and destroyed or damaged about 1,000 structures.

The Eaton Fire was reported at about 6:20 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive in the hills above Altadena amid hurricane-force Santa Ana winds, according to Cal Fire.

By 11 p.m. Wednesday, Cal Fire reported the fire had grown to 10,600 acres and was 0% contained. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Thursday morning the spread of the fire had been significantly slowed thanks to efforts of firefighters and diminishing winds.

He noted that there have been numerous injuries, although no specific numbers were provided, and he said more than 1,000 structures were damaged or destroyed in the fire.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger said Wednesday between 200 and 500 structures had been destroyed,

Thursday, January 9, 2025

County Assessor Offers Tax Relief for Wildfire Victims

STAFF REPORT

Property owners affected by Eaton Fire may qualify for temporary tax adjustments through an existing program

Los Angeles County property owners whose homes were damaged or destroyed in this week’s wildfires can seek tax relief through an existing County program, according to County Assessor Jeff Prang.

Prang pointed to the ‘Misfortune and Calamity Property Tax Relief’ program, which provides temporary property tax adjustments for qualifying residents, reflecting reduced property values until repairs or rebuilding are completed.

“Our hearts are with everyone impacted by this disaster. The Assessor’s Office is here to help and we remain committed to providing the resources and support those in need,” Prang said.

To qualify, property damage must exceed $10,000 in current market value. Property owners must file claims within 12 months of the damage date. The program provides temporary property tax relief with adjustments reflecting reduced property value until repairs or rebuilding are completed.

The Assessor’s Office has suspended in-person operations through the end of the week but continues to provide services online at assessor.lacounty.gov.

Thursday, January 9, 2025

At Press Conference, Officials Give Key Updated Details About Devastating Eaton Fire

STAFF REPORT

Pasadena City, Los Angeles County and State officials gathered outside the Pasadena Convention Center at 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon to detail the devastating details and impact of the Eaton Fire, which erupted around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday near Altadena Drive and Midwick Drive and has grown to over 10,600 acres with zero containment. The wildfire is unprecedented in Pasadena in modern times.

“We have experienced a tremendous tragedy here in our community,” Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo said at the press conference. “To date, we have over 100,000 people under mandatory evacuation. We’ve had five fatalities, and then we have close to another hundred thousand people who have been warned to evacuate because they’re in a danger zone.”

Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin confirmed between 200 and 500 structures have been damaged or destroyed by the wind-driven blaze, which saw gusts reaching 70-plus miles per hour and ember casting two-plus miles ahead of the fire front.

The rapid spread,

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Damage to Pasadena Unified School District Campuses

STAFF REPORT

Pasadena Unified campuses damaged, extent not known

Pasadena Unified School District campuses have suffered fire damage, however the full extent of the damage and the number of campuses involved has yet to be determined. Pasadena Unified School District spokesperson Hilda Ramirez Horvath said that the damages are still being assessed and she will share the information as soon as possible.

Pasadena Now reporter Eddie Rivera saw and photographed the heavily damaged Aveson Charter School campus, as well as a destroyed Aveson school bus.

Rivera also photographed Eliot Arts Magnet, which had suffered extensive damage.

Earlier, Rivera drove by Pasadena High School but could not observe fire damage.