9/11 Remembrance

I've posted on the News Net site a seven article series that I first ran in 2006, for the five-year anniversary of 9/11. It's quite long, and in places repetitive, but it tells the story of two amazing men, and a father's love for his son. You can read it here. http://www.sierramadrenews.net/napolitano.htm You may want to split it up into a few readings, it was spread out over seven weeks when it was first published in the San Gabriel Valley Weekly.

Community Meeting will Update Residents on Fire Situation

A community meeting will be conducted by the Station Fire Incident Management Team (IMT) on Thursday, September 3, at 7:00 p.m., to update residents of Pasadena, Sierra Madre and Arcadia about the Station Fire that has been burning since last Thursday. City of Sierra Madre officials will be present as well.

The meeting will be at Pasadena Church of the Nazarene’s Lee Chapel, 3700 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.

The IMT is conducting a series of meetings in San Gabriel Valley foothill communities over the next few days, on Friday, the meeting will be held at the Azusa Senior Center at 7:00 p.m.

For more information call 626.355.7135.

Station Fire Update - Includes Update from City/Fire Chief

Spoke with Chief Heydorf around 2:30, who told me that the fire is a couple ridges away, nothing imminent. I pointed out that in the last several days, I'd seen it look much closer than it does now, yet today the news keeps reporting that they ar trying to make sure it doesn't get to Sierra Madre, Monrovia and Altadena. Chief told me that at the briefing this morning, they were told that if it gets here, it will be at least 4 days before it does, and there's a big IF. Here's what the Sierra Madre emergency blog has to say on the situation:

Sierra Madre Fire Department and City Officials are closely monitoring the Station Fire. At this time, there is no imminent danger to Sierra Madre residents.

The City of Sierra Madre has begun preparations in case the Station Fire enters Sierra Madre. At this time the Station Fire continues to be a slow moving fire and if the fire continues moving toward Sierra Madre, officials do not expect it to enter the City for at least five days. This prediction is contingent on if the current weather conditions continue.

Today, fire officials began pre-treating the northern border of Sierra Madre by sending handcrews to work behind the northern-most properties in Sierra Madre creating a small fire break. This fire break is expected to extend from Altadena to Azusa.

Residents north of Carter Avenue traveling east to Mira Monte Avenue and across Alegria Avenue to Grandview Avenue are ask to begin their emergency preparations in case the City has to evacuate residents. Residents are reminded to be “Ready for 7” with 7 days worth of food, clothing, medicine, pet food and supplies should they have to leave their homes. If the City evacuates residents, an evacuation center will be set up at the Community Recreation Center at 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Crated pets will be allowed.

As the fire continues to burn closer to Sierra Madre, wild animals will be leaving the forest and entering the City. Public Safety Officials warn residents to be cautious and leave them alone and to please not feed the wild animals. Residents may want to take caution and keep small children and pets indoors.

In compliance with an order from the US Forest Service and the LA County Sheriff Department, the City is closing until further notice Bailey Canyon, Mt. Wilson Trail and the road up to Chantry Flats.

For more information, please tune into SMTV3, channel 3 on Time Warner Cable, or www.sierramadrepio.blogspot.com. eBlasts will also be sent out to registered users – to register for email alerts please visit www.cityofsierramadre.com, click on AccessSierraMadre, and then click CommunicationLink to register your email address.

Other sources of information about the Station Fire can be found at InciWeb the Incident Information System http://inciweb.org/