Tuesday, January 28, 2025

County Supervisors Look for Review of Emergency Notification System

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The county Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday calling for an independent review of the emergency notification systems used during fires and other crises to inform residents of evacuation orders, following faulty alerts.

The notification system generated complaints in the early days of the Los Angeles-area firestorm when several erroneous alerts were sent to cell phones countywide telling residents they were in an evacuation area. Those alerts were intended to be sent to residents near the Kenneth Fire in the West Hills area, but they instead went to millions of residents countywide, and even some in Orange County.

Authorities at the time called it a technology issue, not human error.

The Los Angeles Times later reported that residents in the Altadena area west of Lake Avenue did not receive any emergency evacuation orders until roughly nine hours after the Eaton Fire erupted, despite the blaze burning uncontrollably and spreading rapidly due to fierce Santa Ana winds.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

LA Supervisors Approve $32 Million Fire Recovery Fund, Additional Efforts

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal Tuesday to create a Fire Recovery Fund to provide direct cash aid to wildfire victims, with an initial bankroll of $32.2 million.

The motion calls for the county to initially allocate the $32.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars, with the departments of Economic Opportunity and Consumer and Business Affairs directed to report back in a week with an implementation update, including details on a process for people to apply for relief funds.

The county CEO was asked to find additional county funding to be re-purposed for fire recovery.

The fund will provide “direct cash aid to homeowners, renters, business owners, workers, and other community members impacted by the fire events,” according to the motion by Supervisors Lindsey Horvath and Kathryn Barger. “The fund will provide immediate, temporary assistance to impacted residents until longer term state and federal recovery resources become available.”

The wind-driven Palisades,

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Barger Honors Eaton Fire Community Heroes

STAFF REPORT

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger today recognized the extraordinary contributions of community partners who provided vital support during the Eaton Fire.

Three weeks after the wildfire’s devastation, a special presentation hosted by Chair Barger at the start of today’s Board of Supervisors meeting highlighted the selfless efforts of several key organizations and individuals.

“It’s been three weeks since the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena, causing devastation and the displacement for thousands of residents,” remarked Chair Kathryn Barger. “While we’ve witnessed unimaginable grief and loss, we’ve also seen the very best of our community. Countless organizations, businesses, nonprofits, and residents have stepped up to help when Altadena needed it most. Today is about honoring their efforts.”

The following individuals and organizations were recognized by Chair Barger:

The Altadena Rotary Club raised significant funds for community recovery. Although 13 of their members lost their homes, the club is still firmly committed to connecting residents to support.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

California Attorney General Bonta Says Pause on Federal Dollars Could Impact Fire Disaster Relief

By ANDRÈ COLEMAN, Managing Editor

According to a statement by California Attorney General Rob Bonta a pending pause in $3 trillion in federal assistance funding could impact disaster relief programs that could assist Pasadena and Altadena in its relief from the recent wildfires.

Bonta and two dozen attorney generals filed a restraining order to block the freeze of $3 trillion in federal assistance funding.

In the statement the attorney generals said, the pause would do “immediate harm to their states. … Impacted programs include disaster relief funding necessary for funding necessary for Los Angeles’ recovery from recent wildfires.”

The wildfires destroyed more than 10,000 structures in Altadena and Pasadena and scorched more than 14,000 acres.

“The Trump Administration is recklessly disregarding the health, wellbeing, and public safety of the people it is supposed to serve,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This directive is unprecedented in scope and would be devastating if implemented. Already, it has created chaos and confusion among our residents.

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Altadena Sheriff’s Station Alerts Public to Disaster-Related Price Gouging and Fraud

Local law enforcement shares State guidelines for reporting emergency-related consumer crimes

The Altadena Sheriff’s Station, through posts on social media, has issued a public alert urging residents to report instances of price gouging and fraud during emergencies.

The state defines price gouging as sellers attempting to exploit consumers during emergencies by significantly increasing prices for essential goods and services.

California’s Office of the Attorney General has established dedicated channels for reporting such violations, including a specialized website at oag.ca.gov/lafires and a hotline at (800) 952-5225.

State law strictly prohibits merchants from raising prices more than 10 percent on essential goods and services after emergency declarations, according to the Office of the Attorney General.

The price gouging restrictions apply broadly across various sectors, encompassing both short-term rentals through platforms like Airbnb and traditional longer-term residential lease agreements.

Law enforcement officials advise residents to maintain detailed records including emails, texts, voicemails, direct messages, screenshots of rental listings,

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Hope for Fire Victims at Wildfire Resource Hub

By EDDIE RIVERA

Kaiser Permanente opens its facility for VOAD disaster recovery event

Kaiser Permanente opened its doors Monday to host the Wildfire Resource Hub, an event  aimed at helping families recover from the Eaton Fire devastation.

Organized by California Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), the six-day Wildfire Resource Hub is providing critical services, supplies, and support to hundreds of displaced individuals and families—all free of charge.

VOAD, a coalition of nonprofits dedicated to disaster relief, has been instrumental in creating a centralized space where survivors can access resources tailored to their immediate and long-term recovery needs. The event highlights the power of collaboration and the resilience of affected communities, with organizations like the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and faith-based groups like Hope Crisis Response playing pivotal roles.

VOAD Executive Director Kevin Cox explained the organization’s mission, saying, “Our responsibility is to provide free services to communities anytime a disaster occurs. This includes emotional,

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

LA County Officials Detail Altadena Fire Debris Removal Process At Monday Community Meeting

Officials present two-phase cleanup process with opt-in period starting Jan. 28

Los Angeles County officials detailed a comprehensive debris removal plan for Altadena’s fire-affected properties at a community meeting Monday afternoon, outlining a two-phase approach beginning with Environmental Protection Agency hazardous waste removal before proceeding to general debris cleanup.

“I would like to thank you all for joining us this afternoon. I’m hosting these meetings regularly so that you can get your questions answered and we felt this was the best way to go about doing it,” said Supervisor Barger. “I am pushing and I’m confident it will not take 18 months to get the rebuilding process started. We’re going to rebuild, we’re going to rebuild Altadena, and we’re going to rebuild the community so that we can all once again celebrate such an incredible, incredible place.”

Beginning Jan. 28, residents can opt into a free government-run cleanup program or choose to manage debris removal independently. At the Board of Supervisors meeting,

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Four Cities Unite in Opposition to EPA’s Hazardous Waste Site Decision for Eaton Fire Debris

Local municipalities challenge federal agency’s plan to process Eaton Fire debris near residential areas

The Environmental Protection Agency’s unexpected designation of Lario Park in Duarte as a collection and processing site for hazardous debris collected in Altadena and Pasadena from buildings damaged or destroyed by the Eaton Fire has provoked strong opposition from four cities.

Four California municipalities—Azusa, Irwindale, Baldwin Park, and Duarte—issued a forceful joint statement Monday condemning the lack of prior consultation about the project’s potential impact on their residents. 

“The Cities of Azusa, Irwindale, Baldwin Park, and Duarte (Cities) did not receive advanced notification nor were given an opportunity to express concerns regarding the cities’ close proximity to the site, and the potential negative effects this could have on its communities,” the cities said in a statement Monday. 

The cities formally oppose both the Lario Park operation and any other sites they believe could negatively affect their communities. 

The federal agency announced its decision on January 23 to commence operations at the site likely next week. 

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Rosebud Academy Looking to the Future After the Fire

By André Coleman, Managing Editor

The Pasadena Unified School District announced on Monday that Rosebud Academy has been offered space at Don Benito Elementary school.

The relocation would allow students from Rosebuds to share space with students at the school as the District continues to figure out how to place students displaced by the fire.

The academy was one of three charter schools destroyed in the fire.

The fire broke out on Jan. 7 and spurred on by powerful winds decimated Altadena and damaged additional buildings in Pasadena.

All told 9,000 buildings and 14,000 acres were scorched by the blaze, which forced many residents to flee their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

“One of our parents sent us a video of [the school] on fire,” said Shawn Brown, founder and executive director of the school. “We knew at that point that for the most part, our school had burned. I live around the corner,

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Arraignment Continued in Murder Case of Altadena Couple

By André Coleman, Managing Editor

According to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office, the arraignment of a man charged in the double murder of a couple found murdered in their Altadena home has been continued until Feb. 6.

In January, police found Wendell Harmon, 62, and his wife Beverly Harmon, 58, shot to death in their Altadena home.

A nephew, Melvin Johnson, has been charged with two counts of murder with special circumstances.

Wendell Harmon was a longtime City employee.

Police have not revealed any motive for the double murder.

Johnson, 35, of Altadena, has also been charged with an additional allegation of discharging a firearm with intent to cause great bodily injury.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, a final report on the deaths is not complete.

An official at the Medical Examiner’s Office told Pasadena Now earlier this month that the results of the autopsy are pending until tests are concluded.