Second Fire at Lombard

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Page 2 Palisades News November 18, 2015 AVAILABLE AILABLE PROPERTIES 1920s SPANISH ESTATE TE IN RIVIERA $5,995,000 | 945Corsica.comom CORNER LOT IN ALPHABET STREETS $5,659,000 | 1101Hartzell.com BRAND NEW CAPE COD IN ABC’S $5,489,000 | 1018Kagawa.com IN ESCROW 1-ACRE OCEAN VIEW MEDITERRANEAN $3,950,000 | 16882CharmelLane.com REMODELED ON OVER- SIZED CORNER LOT TOPANGA CANYON ARCHITECTURAL AL $2,789,000 | BollingerEstate.com te.com $2,699,000 | 2695OldTopanga.com om STORYBOOK HOME ON EXPASIVE LOT $2,695,000 | 15861SeabecCircle.com COASTAL AL VIEW CONTEMPORARY $2,399,000 | 730Lachman.com FOR LEASE CHARMING HOME STUNNING OCEAN VIEWS $6,900/month CalBRE#01173073 #1 Palisades Broker Nearly $1 Billion in Homes Sold | WSJ’s Top 100 Agents Nationwide | Giving 10% of each commission to charity ANTHONY MARGULEAS 310.293.9280 | Anthony@AmalfiEstates.com AmalfiEstates.com
November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 3 Fire Ignites off Via de las Olas By SUE PASCOE Editor Firefighters had just come to our door to tell us we were being evacuated, but first they wanted to see if we had done our brush clearance correctly. I showed the inspector the back of the house and to my relief, my husband had removed leaves and dead brush, but water from fire hoses was already running everywhere Then the helicopters grew louder, and I woke up. I had been having a nightmare. I got out of bed and checked my cell phone. It was 3:45 a.m. on Sunday, November 8. I had recently installed the Palisades Patrol app and it said there was a fire at Temescal and Pacific Coast Highway. I threw on clothes, and a jacket because it seemed cool, and went out onto Radcliffe. It was black outside, no streetlights, at least none that seemed to be working, and walked 10 minutes to Mount Holyoke. There was no fire as I looked over Tem - escal Canyon, but there was a large cloud of smoke coming from the area below Via de las Olas and I began walking that direction. As I turned the corner onto Via de las Olas, it suddenly felt warmer. There were fire trucks lining the entire street with lights flashing, helicopters with spotlights were zooming low making water drops, and the canyon was lit up with a warm glow from the fire that eventually consumed almost three acres. The scene was in sharp contrast to the blackness around it. I spoke first to Ken Nelson of the Mountain Recreation Conservation Authority, whose truck was parked at Beirut. He told me they was suspected that it was a transient warming fire. Since I walk my dogs there frequently, I told him I had seen tents in the canyon for the past few weeks. I continued to the command center and identified myself to Battalion 17 Chief John Drake from Woodland Hills. He said the call had come in at 2:59 and the fire had started midway up the hill, above PCH. Thirteen engine companies, three truck companies, two brush patrols, one water tender, four command teams, two L.A. County hand crews and three water-dropping helicopters responded. Large fire hoses in the streets, made vehicle traffic impossible, and water was flowing down the street. The houses across from the fire were dark and there were almost no residents on the sidewalk watching. I later learned that many Via de las Olas and Friends Street residents had voluntarily evacuated around 3:30 a.m. My nightmare at home was what families were living as they woke their small children and loaded their cars to leave their homes. Below on Pacific Coast Highway, I saw more fire trucks and emergency vehicles The absence of wind prevented the Lombard fire embers from spreading. Photo: Cynthia Peterson (cynthiacpphotography.com) Water-dropping helicopters made numerous drops. that were blocking the northbound lanes. As the helicopters made repeated drops, Drake explained: “The water hits the head of the fire, and firefighters are on the ground making sure no houses catch fire. That’s our priority. I don’t care if the brush burns.” The embers were almost magical, spar - kling and twinkling, as they shot 20 feet into the air or higher. Clearly that if there had been a wind, not only the houses adjacent to the fire, but across Potrero, to the Huntington could have been in jeopardy. I told Drake, “I’m glad there’s no wind.” He responded “Me, too.” Standing on the edge of the cliffs, I watched as the firefighters shot water over the top, trying to prevent the embers from crossing across the street to the eucalyptus trees and homes. The flames reached a palm tree, dancing lazily, like little tongues, and then grew into a larger fire lighting the entire area, but just then one of the three helicopters making repeated drops flew over. The fire went out and firefighters continued to hose the area. That same scenario was repeated over and over in the next few hours. At the command center, the wind start ed to pick up, where just moments before the air had been calm. “As the fire goes up the slope, it creates a topographical breeze,” Drake said. “The fire preheats the brush as it moves up the slope and creates its own wind.” By 6 a.m., the larger flames had been doused, allowing crews to go into the brush to turn over dirt and handle hot spots. The helicopter continued to drop water as the sun was started to lighten the sky. Transients Asked to Move On Palisades Patrol CEO Scott Wagen - seller sent the following update on Thursday, November 12. “LAPD is in full force at PCH and Porta Marina working on homeless encampments. The next stop is the hills on the parkland below Via de las Olas where the fire was. They are going to be posting enforceable no camping signs.” A few minutes later, Wagenseller sent another update: “Two men arrested at Castellammare and Sunset Boulevard. One had a gun (.380 pistol) and the other was stealing from Vons.” Sgt. Eric Fine of Palisades Patrol accompanied Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore and other LAPD to the area between Tem - escal Canyon Road and Potrero Canyon (above PCH, near the burn area) and reported: “The brush area is more than 8 feet high.” He said that LAPD was telling transients they were no longer allowed to stay Photo: Sue Pascoe because of the new signage. Moore said on Thursday that there were seven active campsites and eight abandoned ones. Pacific Palisades Senior Lead Officer Michael Moore stands by a tent located near the burn site. Photo: Palisades Paatrol
Page 1: Vol. 2, No. 2 • November 18, 2015
Page 5 and 6: November 18, 2015 Palisades News Pa
Page 7 and 8: Palisades News November 18, 2015 A
Page 13 and 14: Palisades News November 18, 2015 Pa

Second Fire at Lombard

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?