Saturday, November 22, 2025

New Report Reveals How SoCal Fires Became “Urban Conflagrations,” Causing 32 Fatalities

A new report on the devastating January 2025 Southern California wildfires, which led to 32 confirmed fatalities, concludes that the blazes rapidly transformed from typical wildland events into fast-moving “urban conflagrations” fueled by homes and vehicles. The Southern California Fires Timeline Report, released on Thursday, November 20 by the Underwriters Laboratories Fire Safety Research Institute (ULRI), provides a detailed timeline of the fires that burned between January 7-31, with a focus on the Eaton Fire that ravaged parts of Altadena and Pasadena.

The report serves as the foundation for Phase Two, the Southern California Fires Incident Analysis Report. The analysis in the second report will look to understand pre-existing conditions in the fire areas, the influence of the built environment on fire behavior, first responders’ actions, and emergency response agencies’ capabilities for addressing urban conflagrations.

The second report will also include detailed recommendations to improve emergency preparedness and response and will be available for implementation by the State of California, local officials, and communities.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Report: County Fire Department Will Hire Independent Investigator to Examine Altadena Evacuation Delay

The Los Angeles County Fire Department will hire an independent investigator to examine a reported three-hour delay in issuing evacuation orders to West Altadena residents during the Jan. 7 Eaton Fire, Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said Friday, according to the Pasadena Star-News.

Many residents reported that they, in fact, never received any evacuation notifications.

Friday evening, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger said she approves the effort to launch an independent review.

“I fully support launching an independent investigation into evacuation orders in West Altadena. The Fire Safety Research Institution Timeline Report has brought more data to light that warrants action,” Barger said in an email. “I will continue championing transparency and accountability. Altadena residents deserve nothing less.”

The report Barger referred to is a state-commissioned report released earlier this week that raised questions about the timeline of alerts issued as the fire spread through Altadena and Pasadena neighborhoods.

Released Thursday by the Underwriters Laboratories Fire Safety Research Institute it documents how the Palisades and Eaton blazes rapidly escalated into “urban conflagrations,” but local officials said the immediate priority is investigating the evacuation timeline in Altadena.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Altadena Tree Restoration Effort Confronts Critical Funding Gap

Volunteers plant thousands of saplings, but long-term sustainability requires resources grassroots enthusiasm alone cannot provide

The saplings go into the ground quickly. Volunteers arrive with enthusiasm. But as Altadena works to restore 70% of its lost tree canopy, community organizers face a sobering reality: planting trees is the easy part.

Sustaining them requires money, coordination and years of commitment.

Organizations like the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) Urban Forestry Project are racing against time. They must raise $50,000 by Dec. 1 to continue their restoration work. The deadline underscores a fundamental challenge facing the community’s regreening efforts.

Grassroots passion alone cannot rebuild an urban forest.

“We need the trees for the heat, we need the trees for the protection they provide from the fire,” says Claire Robinson, founder of Altadena nonprofit Amigos de los Rios. “We need [trees] for the sense of history and place.”

Robinson knows the stakes personally. The Eaton Fire destroyed both her organization’s building and her home.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Pasadena Rep. Judy Chu Leads Call for ICE Accountability After Detainee Deaths

Congresswoman Judy Chu, D?Pasadena, joined Rep. Dave Min, D?Irvine, in spearheading a congressional letter Friday demanding answers from Homeland Security officials about medical care for immigrants in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, following the death of a Costa Mesa man while detained at the agency’s Adelanto processing center.

The letter, signed by 43 other members of Congress including Southland representatives Robert Garcia, Maxine Waters, Lou Correa and Mike Levin, cited the Oct. 23 death of 56?year?old Gabriel Garcia?Aviles. Lawmakers said his death came just a month after another detainee, Ismael Ayala?Uribe, died Sept. 22 at Adelanto after reportedly being denied medical treatment.

“These deaths raise serious questions about ICE’s ability to comply with basic detention standards, medical care protocols, and notification requirements, and underscore a pattern of gross negligence that demands immediate accountability,” the letter stated.

ICE officials, in a Nov. 3 statement, said Garcia?Aviles was arrested Oct. 15 and admitted the same day to Victory Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville after showing suspected alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Altadena Bridge Damaged in Eaton Fire Reopens

CITY NEWS SERVICE

The Lincoln Avenue Bridge, which has been closed in Altadena since May due to concerns about damage originally suffered in the Eaton Fire, has reopened with a temporary structure, county Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced Friday.

Lincoln Avenue between Altadena Drive and Palm Street was closed in May when inspectors noted new cracking and other damage on the bridge. The bridge had already been given a 7-ton weight restriction after the Eaton Fire in January, but the new damage necessitated the closure so repairs can be made.

According to Barger, a temporary bridge has now been completed, allowing the reopening of the roadway.

“I am pleased to see our community’s bridge reopened,” Barger said in a statement. “Lincoln Avenue Bridge is a key connector along the Lincoln Avenue corridor. Reopening it means Altadena residents will have easier access to Loma Alta Park and nearby neighborhoods. It’s a big deal.”

The county Department of Public Works will soon begin working on a permanent bridge replacement.

Friday, November 21, 2025

Supervisor Barger Leads $60 Million Push to Rebuild Altadena’s Fire-Damaged Parks

STAFF REPORT

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger announced that more than $60 million has been secured to rebuild Altadena’s fire-damaged parks following the Eaton Fire.

The announcement was delivered inside the renovated Loma Alta Park gymnasium, where Barger was joined by Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Director Norma E. García-González, community partners and residents. Large renderings of Eaton Canyon Natural Area, Farnsworth Park and Charles White Park illustrated the county’s long-term recovery plans.

Barger emphasized that while the county has reached a major funding milestone, the $60 million secured represents only about one-third of the more than $190 million needed to fully restore all impacted park spaces. She called upon philanthropic, nonprofit and private-sector partners to join the effort.

“Altadena’s parks are the heart of this community, so securing strong partnerships is essential for the thousands of displaced Eaton Fire survivors eager to reconnect,” Barger said. “From little league games at Farnsworth Park to cultural festivals at Charles White Park to hiking in Eaton Canyon,

Friday, November 21, 2025

Pasadena Turkey Giveaway Expands Into Community Festival

Editor’s Update: This event has been relocated and moved indoors to the Robinson Park Recreation Center, Community Room, 1081 N. Fair Oaks Avenue.

What began more than a decade ago as a Thanksgiving turkey distribution has grown into a full community festival, complete with live music, produce displays and city leaders joining residents on Friday at the Robinson Park Recreation Center, in the Community Room, at 1081 N. Fair Oaks Avenue.

Councilmember Tyron Hampton assumed leadership of the event three years ago after the death of Councilmember John J. Kennedy in July 2022.

Hampton expects to distribute 400 to 500 more turkeys than in past years, citing economic pressures, rising food costs and recent issues with government food plans.

The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and besides Hampton will feature Mayor Victor Gordo, Vice Mayor Jess Rivas and Councilmember Rick Cole, along with Pasadena police, firefighters, clergy and community groups. Volunteers will provide drive-through service for residents who prefer to remain in their cars,

Friday, November 21, 2025

Seniors Can Learn How to Prevent Home Improvement Scams at Pasadena Senior Center on Thursday, Dec. 4

STAFF REPORT

A presentation geared to help seniors learn how to prevent home improvement and construction scams will be held at the Pasadena Senior Center on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. Attendees may register to attend both in-person or via Zoom.

The “Senior Scam Stopper’ seminar, presented by the Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB) and the Assistance League of Pasadena, will provide tips and resources on what to know before hiring a contractor, the right questions to ask contractors and home improvement companies, and how to be in informed consumer. The CSLB is part of the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

The program will conclude with a question-and-answer session open to all.

The event is free and reservations are suggested. To register, or for more information, visit www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org and click on Lectures & Classes, then Workshops, or call (626) 795-4331.

For 65 years, Pasadena Senior Center’s mission has been to improve the lives of older adults through caring service with opportunities for social interaction,

Friday, November 21, 2025

Pasadena School Board Approves $24.5 Million in Fiscal Cuts After Intense Debate, Prioritizing Classrooms Over Central Office

[Updated] After hours of highly emotional testimony and rigorous debate, the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education approved a Fiscal Stabilization Plan on Thursday night, mandating spending cuts totaling over $24.5 million across central administration, school sites, and external contracts.

The vote, which came late in the evening after extending the meeting until 11:30 p.m., was the culmination of months of work by the Superintendent’s Budget Advisory Committee attempting to stave off a potential takeover by the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE). In combination with grants and revenue generation, the plan would reduce the 2026-27 fiscal budget by $30.5 million.

The measure was only approved after significant amendments salvaged key student instructional programs by maximizing cuts to the central office—a decision that district staff warned would lead to organizational strain and potentially interrupt critical services.

In the end, board members Kimberly Kenne, Scott Harden, Tina Fredericks and Yarma Velázquez voted in favor of the amended plan, while Michelle Richardson Bailey, Patrice Marshall McKenzie,

Friday, November 21, 2025

Flood Advisories and Flash Flood Warnings Issued for Pasadena as Heavy Rain Pounds Los Angeles County

The National Weather Service in Los Angeles/Oxnard extended multiple flood advisories and flash flood warnings early Friday morning as heavy rain swept across Los Angeles County, with Pasadena among the communities under alert.

At 2:47 and 2:49 a.m., the NWS issued two Flood Advisories warning of urban and small stream flooding caused by excessive rainfall. Doppler radar indicated heavy rain, prompting the extension of advisories until 6 a.m. PST. Impacts include minor flooding in low?lying streets, water ponding in urban areas, and possible rockslides or mudslides in hillside terrain.

By 3:09 a.m. and again at 3:59 a.m., forecasters extended Flash Flood Warnings for both Southwestern Los Angeles County and South Central Los Angeles County. Radar and automated gauges showed moderate to heavy showers and thunderstorms. Rainfall rates of 0.4 to 0.8 inches per hour were observed, with flash flooding ongoing or imminent. Hazards were described as “flash flooding caused by thunderstorms” and “flash flooding, along with rock slides and mudslides, caused by thunderstorms.”

The Weather Service cautioned residents to avoid flooded roads and emphasized: “Turn around,