update on fires

	COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES Office of Emergency Management 1275 North Eastern Avenue Los Angeles, California 90063 (323) 980-2260
William T Fujioka Chief Executive Officer		John S. Fernandes Administrator

 

 

 

 

Press Release

 

UPDATE ON MORRIS AND STATION FIRES

(Shelters, Evacuations and Road Closures)

For Immediate Release

LOS ANGELES (Tue., Sept. 1, 2009-12 noon) – There are two active wildfires taking place in various parts of Los Angeles County.

 

The Morris Fire: This fire began on Tue., Aug. 25. This fire has burned approximately 2,168 acres in the Angeles National Forest of Los Angeles County. The Morris Fire is 95 percent contained.  Five injuries have been reported. There have been no confirmed structures destroyed at this time. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Drinking Water Program in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service are advising residents/employees of the following areas (listed below) to use boil tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution upon the lifting of the evacuation order and return to the residency.

·         Rincon Station B-10

·         USFS East Fork Station

·         Cogswell Dam

·         Camp Bon Accord

·         Fire Camp 19

·         San Gabriel Dam

·         Camp Williams

·         River Community

 

The Station Fire: This fire started off of Angeles Crest Highway (SR 2) about one mile above Angeles Crest Fire Station around 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. Los Angeles County Fire reported that this fire has burned 121,762 acres and is 5 percent contained as of 7a.m this morning, Tues., Sept. 01, 2009. Approximately 10,000 residences are threatened at this time (500 commercial structures and 2000 out buildings as well). Over 3,655 personnel are working the fire. 53 structures including residences and recreational cabins have been confirmed as destroyed. The Station Fire continues to burn within the Angeles National Forest and near surrounding foothill communities of La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Acton, Soledad Canyon, Pasadena, Juniper Hills, Mt. Wilson and Sunland-Tujunga.

 

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Two Los Angeles County firefighters were killed Sun., Aug. 30, as they were fighting the Station Fire. 

 

"Our hearts are heavy as we are tragically reminded of the sacrifices our firefighters and their families make daily to keep us safe," Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

Five injures (including the two fire fighters who passed away) have been reported. Law enforcement and fire personnel are urging residents in the area to be ready to evacuate if you are near the fire boundary. Do not hesitate to move to a designated evacuation center.

 

Governor Schwarzenegger has proclaimed a local emergency for Los Angeles County. Chief Executive Officer William T Fujioka of Los Angeles County has proclaimed a local emergency due to the wildfires and La Canada Flintridge has also proclaimed a local emergency.

 

EVACUATIONS:

 

North Side Mandatory

• Acton Area: There has been a mandatory evacuation of Soledad Canyon Rd. between Agua Dulce Canyon Rd. and Crown Valley Rd. There is a mandatory evacuation of the area bounded by Soledad Canyon Rd., Aliso Canyon Rd. and Angeles Forest Highway.
• National Forest: Soledad Canyon Rd./Bootlegger Canyon Rd. area as well as Little Rock Recreation Area Mount Emma Rd. and Cheseboro Rd./Cima Mesa area northeast of Juniper Hills.

 

North Side Voluntary

• Juniper Hills Area: south of Fort Tejon Rd. from Mount Emma Rd to Longview Rd.

 

South Side Mandatory

• National Forest: There has been mandatory evacuation of the area along Big Tujunga Canyon Rd. from Mount Gleason to Angeles Forest Highway as well as the Chantry Flats area.
• There has been a mandatory evacuation along Little Tujunga Canyon Rd. north of the Little Tujunga Ranger Station and Gold Creek Rd.
• La Crescenta: Vicinity of Rosemont, La Crescenta, and Ramsdale as well as north of Rockedell, Pineridge, Mountain Pine, and Markridge Rd. NEW MANDATORY EVACUATION ORDERS have been issued for all residences south of Markridge Rd. to Orange Ave between Pennsylvania Ave. and Oceanview Blvd. including Orange Cove Ave.
• La Canada Flintridge: Mandatory evacuation orders include all residences north of Orange Ave. from Pennsylvania Ave. to Briggs Ave. and all residences north of Ocean View Blvd. north of Castle Rd.

 

 

 

 

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• Altadena: Evacuation orders have been lifted for the areas north of W. Loma Alta Dr. between Aralia Rd. and Fair Oaks Ave. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF Prieto Fire Rd. and Millard Canyon north of Risinghill Rd. which remain under mandatory evacuation orders. Chaney Trail and Alzada Dr. north of Jaxine Dr. also remain under mandatory evacuation orders.
• Tujunga: Northwest of Day at Blue Gum Canyon Rd., to Glory Ave. to westbound Apperson St. to northbound Fairgrove Ave. to westbound Summitrose St. to northbound Pinyon Ave. to westbound Hillrose St. to northbound Seven Hills Dr. to Lonzo St.
• Glendale: Markridge St. between Lowell St. and Pennsylvania Ave. and all residences north to the foothills.

 

South Side Voluntary

• Glendale: North of Santa Carlotta Ave.

 

East Side Mandatory

• Sunland-Tujunga: Evacuation orders have been issued for the area bounded by Lonzo St., Terecita Rd., Hillhaven Ave., and Apperson St.

 

American Red Cross Shelters:

 

• Golden Valley High School

(27051 Robert C. Lee Pkwy – Santa Clarita, 91350)

• Marie Kerr Park Recreational Center

(2723 A Rancho Vista Blvd., Palmdale 93550)

• La Canada High School

(4463 Oak Grove Dr., La Canada Flintridge, 91011-3797)

• La Crescenta Valley High School

(2900 Community Ave., La Crescenta, 91214)                  

• Verdugo Hills High School

(10625 Plainview Avenue, Tujunga, 91042)

 

Pet Evacuation Centers (Large and Small Animals):

 

• Pierce College

39055 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills (boarding horses/big animals)

• La Canada High School

4463 Oak Grove, La Canada (small animals)

• Pasadena Humane Society

361 S. Raymond, Pasadena

• Loma Alta County Park

at Lincoln and Loma Alta, Altadena

• Humane Society

401 N. Verdugo, Glendale

 

 

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• East Valley Shelter

(For Tujunga Residents) 14409 Vanowen St., Van Nuys 91405 – 888-4LAPET1

or 888-452-7381

• Baldwin Park Shelter

(For Altadena Residents) 4275 N. Elton St., Baldwin Park 626-962-3577

• Lancaster Animal Shelter 5210 W. Ave. I, Lancaster, CA 93536, (661) 940-4191

 

School Closures:

 

The Los Angeles County Office of Education is sending the following summary information available at this time regarding Station Fire-related school district closures in the county for Tuesday, September 01, 2009:

• Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District-All Schools Closed
• Burbank Unified School District-All Schools Open
• Glendale Unified School District-All Schools Closed
• La Canada Unified School District-All Schools Closed
• Los Angeles Unified School District-Schools in the impacted area are not in session until September 9.
• Pasadena Unified School District-Schools not in Session until September 10.

 

Los Angeles Department of Public Health has issued a hazardous air quality advisory.  Poor air quality is rapidly becoming a concern due to falling ash and potentially toxic smoke from burned materials.  Health advisories and other public health information can be found at http://www.lapublichealth.org/.  Extreme heat continues to be a problem.  Residents are urged to stay indoors if at all possible.  A list of cooling centers operated by L.A. County can be found at

http://css.lacounty.gov/docs/July%202009%20Community%20Cooling%20Centers.pdf. 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

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Information Lines for Residents:

 

• LA County.gov – Emergency Alerts

• LA County 211
• L.A. County Department of Mental Health ACCESSS Center 1-800 854-7771
• American Red Cross-(888) 737-4306

• For residents who may have to evacuate-please check out the Los Angeles County Fire web-site at http://www.fire.lacounty.gov and click on:  “Ready! Set! Go!

• 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 at Alert LA County http://portal@lacounty.gov/wps/portal/alertla

 

Road Closures:

 

• Angeles Crest Highway
• Tujunga Canyon Road
• Big Tujunga Canyon Roads;
• Highway 14 - off and on ramps that have been closed are: Soledad Canyon in Canyon Country, Agua Dulce Canyon Road, Escondido Canyon, Red Rover Mine Road and Crown Valley Road.

 

For more information on road closures access the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works’ website at http://www.dpw.lacounty.gov.

 

 

CONTACT:    Sheriff Headquarters Bureau (323) 267-4800

                        Anne Maria Tafoya, CEO Office of Emergency Management

                        (323)980-2093