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| COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES Office of Emergency Management 1275 North Eastern Avenue Los Angeles, California 90063 (323) 980-2260 |
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| William T Fujioka Chief Executive Officer | | John S. Fernandes Administrator |
PRESS RELEASE
STATION FIRE UPDATE
(American Red Cross Client Service Center is now open)
For Immediate Release
LOS ANGELES (Tuesday, September 8, 2009 – 10:30 a.m.) – The Station Fire started off of Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2) about one mile above Angeles Crest Fire Station around 3:20 p.m., Wednesday, August 26. Los Angeles County Fire reported that this fire has burned 160,357 acres and is 60 percent contained as of 8:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 8. Fire personnel estimate that containment of the Station Fire will be around Tuesday, September 15. Approximately 5,000 residences are threatened at this time, 200 commercial property, and 2,000 outbuildings. 78 residences have been destroyed so far and 13 have been damaged along with 2 commercial properties and 86 other outbuildings. Over 4,861 personnel are working this fire. The Station Fire continues to actively burn with areas of extreme fire behavior near the northeast portion of the fire. The fire has been contained from the southwest of Little Rock to Pacoima Canyon and from the Magic Mountain Wilderness to La Canada-Flintridge. Estimated cost of the Station Fire is estimated at $57,603,000. The Station Fire is now the 10th largest fire in California since 1932.
**Fire crews will attempt to burn vegetation today, Tuesday, to reduce fuels in front of the fire east of Mt. Wilson to the western end of Cogswell Reservoir. This operation will occur at a safe distance from homes and structures, with air support. No evacuations are necessary or anticipated.
Fire breaks will be improved from Bear Creek toward Mt. Waterman, the San Gabriel drainage, and at strategic locations along Forest Highway 2. Crews will construct additional fireline from Chileno Canyon north to Twin Peaks drainage. Aggressive patrol and suppression of hot spots will continue. Crews and equipment have begun repairing fireline along the west side of the fire. The repairs will consist of a number of methods to prevent erosion on roads, trails, and fuel breaks. Dirt roads will be repaired and graded as well.
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The main focus of operations today will be to construct and improve fireline along the eastern perimeter of the fire. As always, firefighter and public safety remains the number one priority.
Two Los Angeles County firefighters were killed last Sunday, August 30, as they were fighting the Station Fire. It has been determined that the cause of the Station Fire is arson and is now a homicide investigation If you have any information or questions please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at 323-573-2387.
Ten injuries have been reported. Law enforcement and Fire personnel are urging residents in the area to be ready to evacuate if near the fire boundary. Do not hesitate to move to a designated evacuation center.
The Governor proclaimed a state of emergency for Los Angeles County on August 28. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors proclaimed a local emergency, Tuesday, September 1, due to the various wildfires.
The Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office, Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has begun the process for the road to recovery in regards to the Station Fire. OEM and the County’s Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) have been working since the onset of the fire to assess and meet the needs of the people who have been impacted by the fires. Initial efforts concentrated on the immediate needs of temporary care and shelter; in addition the following has initiated in support of long-term recovery efforts:
- OEM and Department of Public Works (DPW) have been working collaboratively with the Station Fire’s Unified Command in obtaining damage assessment information, which will document the location and status (damaged or destroyed) of residences, commercial property and outbuildings/others affected by the fire. Also, OEM in coordination with the Sheriff’s Department and DPW has requested an onsite State/Federal individual assistance team to perform a Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA). A PDA is required step to obtain assistance.
- OEM has informed the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) of the County’s intent to seek at a minimum, a disaster determination from the Small Business Administration (SBA) once supporting documentation is in place.
- To ensure that Local Assistance Center(s) (LAC) successfully functions as a “one stop shop” for recovery information, OEM is beginning the process of identifying organizations for the LAC. Locations and services available at the LAC will be announced following the results of the PDA.
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Cooperators:
- U.S Forest Service (Lead Agency)
- Los Angeles County Fire Department
- Los Angeles City Fire Department
- Glendale Fire Department
- Pasadena Fire Department
- Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management
- CAL Fire
- Cal Trans
- American Red Cross
- Southern California Edison
- Los Angels County Coroner’s Office
- Office of Emergency Services
- National Park Service
- Bureau of Land Management
- Department of Defense
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
- City of Arcadia
- City of Monrovia
- City of Sierra Madre
Law Enforcement Agencies involved:
· Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
· LAPD
· CHP
· Glendale Police
· Pasadena PD
· Sierra Madre PD
· Arcadia PD
· Burbank PD
· Azusa PD
· Monrovia PD
American Red Cross Client Service Center:
Lake View Terrace Equestrian Center
11075 Foothill Blvd., Lake View Terrace
Hours of operation: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The center will have on-site nurses, mental health specialists, in addition to providing money and clothing to the fire victims and there families.
Pet Evacuation Centers (Large and Small Animals)
- Pierce College
6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills (can only accept horses, donkeys and mules)
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- Pasadena Humane Society
361 S. Raymond, Pasadena
- East Valley Shelter
14409 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, 91405 - 888-452-7381
- Baldwin Park Shelter
4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park, 626-962-3577
- Antelope Valley Fairgrounds
2551 W. Avenue H, Lancaster (will accept all large animals)
- Lancaster Animal Shelter
5210 W. Avenue I, Lancaster (dogs)
- Agoura Animal Shelter
29525 Agoura Road, Agoura
- Castaic Animal Shelter
31044 N. Charlie Canyon Road, Castaic (cats)
Area Closures:
The Station Fire closure area consists of all National Forest System lands within the Angeles National Forest south and east of California State Route 14 and California State Route 138. Closure status may change without notice.
Glendale: Dukmejian Wilderness Park
Angeles National Forest: Entire eastern main body of the Angeles National Forest will be closed until full containment of the Station Fire. For more information on the closure go to: www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/
Open to Residents Only (with identification):
- Little Tujunga Canyon Road and Live Oak Campground
- Aliso Canyon at Y-8
- Little Tujunga Canyon Road at ¼ mile north of the Wildlife Way Station
- Big Tujunga Road at Mt. Gleason
Road Closures:
- Big Rock Creek Road closed at Big Pines Road
- Highway 39 between San Gabriel Canyon Road and East Fork Road
- Big Tujunga Road at Angeles Forest Highway
- Aliso Canyon Road at Angeles Forest Highway
- Soledad Canyon Road at Indian Canyon Trail Head
- Angeles Crest Highway between Big Pines Highway and mile marker 26.7 north of Altadena
- Big Pines Highway at Big Rock Creek Road
- Chaney Trail at Angeles National Forest gate (Loma Alta)
- Little Rock Reservoir Gate
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Roads Recently Reopened:
- Soledad Canyon Road-Freeway 14 (Santa Clarita)/Bootlegger Road (Acton)
- Little Tujunga Road-Osborne Street/ Gold Creek Road
For information on road closures access the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works’ website at http://www.dpw.lacounty.gov.
Information for Residents:
- Emergency Alerts www.lacounty.gov
- U.S. Forest Service www.inciweb.org/incident/1856
- LA County 211
- L.A. County Department of Mental Health ACCESSS Center 1-800 854-7771
- American Red Cross-1 (866) GET-INFO
- For area closures and current evacuation information check out the Los Angeles County Fire web-site at http://www.fire.lacounty.gov. Click on: “Ready! Set! Go! For areas that may need to evacuate in the near future.
- In the event of an evacuation recommended by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, residents are urged to register their telephone and cellular numbers for Alert LA County at http://alert.lacounty.gov
- To view a map of the fire areas, go to http://gis.lacounty.gov/FireFlex/
- For information on the fire via Twitter, type in 40404, send a blank text message and Twitter will instruct used to create a user name. Then type 40404 and follow space to angelesnf.
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department www.lasd.org
- City of Palmdale www.cityofpalmdale.org
Health Advisory:
Although air quality is improving throughout the county, the Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest will continue to adversely affect air quality in portions of the San Gabriel Mountains and Valley today, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD). The Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, urges all individuals in those areas, or areas where there is visible smoke or the odor of smoke, to avoid unnecessary outdoor and indoor physical exertion, such as exercise.
Public Health is currently conducting water sample testing at the Thousand Trails Mobile Home Park in Acton to ensure the water is not contaminated and safe.
Health advisories and other public health information can be found at http://www.lapublichealth.org/.
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Power Advisory:
Southern California Edison urges its customers in the Santa Clarita, Lancaster and Palmdale areas to conserve energy due to transmission lines that have been damaged by the Station Fire. Edison officials asked customers to turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment, especially sensitive electronics.
Customers are advised to keep flashlights handy in case a service interruption occurs, not to use candles for lighting because they could pose a fire hazard, and not to cook indoors with charcoal or other fossil fuels not meant for indoor use because they could turn deadly.
If a power outage occurs, one light switch should be left in the on position to serve as a signal when service has been restored.
CONTACT:
OA1, Helen Hauze, Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau, L.A. County Sheriff’s (323) 980-2204
CEO, Office of Emergency Management, Anne Maria Tafoya (323) 980-2093
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Anne Maria Tafoya
Los Angeles County
Office of Emergency Management
1275 N. Eastern Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90063
Voice: (323) 980-2093
Fax: (323) 881-6897
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