CA-ANF-SANTA ANITA IC - 400+ acres 5% contained

UPDATE: 4-27-1300hrs - Santa Anita fire - 400+ acres 5% contained - 400 structures evacuated in foothill wildland urban interface.

Evacuation Center: The American Red Cross has opened shelters at the Hart Park House,
222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. and the Congregational Church 170 W. Sierra
Madre Blvd.in Sierra Madre.

The Sierra Madre City Council held an emergency meeting at 12:10 am
this morning to declare the City in a state of emergency.

Air support began again this morning at approcimately 6:30 a.m. We
anticipate having 2 helicopters, 3 air tankers, and over 400
firefighters on the ground.

The difficulty of this fire is the terrain which is steep and
difficult to access. Additonally, some of these areas have not burned
in over 40 years. So far, the weather has been on our side, and
although there will be intense heat today.

We are asking residents and visitors to stay off the streets, keep
areas clear for fire department access and to stay attentive.
Immediate updates can be found on www.cityofsierramadre.com

Santa Anita fire active perimeters map
Screenshot from Geomac
HMS 2008-04-27 800 (GMT); Thermal MODIS 2008-04-27 845 (GMT); Fire Perimeters 2008-04-25; Sit Reports 2008-04-26

Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter drops water
Photo credit: Flora at Flickr -Link

NEW ROUND OF EVACUATIONS - 100 more homes - 300 homes total 400 foothill area homes threatened as wildfire moves towards Southwest towards Pasadena

Two hundred homes around Sierra Madre were evacuated Saturday night and residents from 100 other properties were told to leave Sunday, Elisa Weaver of the Arcadia Fire Department said.
MAP OF ACTIVE FIRE AREA - SANTA ANITA FIRE
Credit: Geomac - Cal Fire News

Update: 350 acres - 5% - Head of fire is moving towards Southwest - Containment is not expected for two to three days
Southern California Incident Management Team #3 assigned as of 0600 this morning.
The Santa Anita Fire is within 1 mi of Chantry Flats Campground.
1 injury - Sierra Madre firefighter who was stung by a bee and transported to Methodist Hospital.
Resources: 400 firefighters, Three Helicopters, 1-AA, 2-Air Tankers,
WUI: 400 residences threatened, 2 commerical buildings threatened
Resources Needs: Hand crews, Type 3 Engines, Air tankers, Medium and Heavy helicopters
Growth potential - High
Terrain - Extreme
Growth potential - High

Heydorff/McCormick are ICs
Unified Command

Critical Resource Needs:
12 hours: hand-crews, type 3 engines, and type 1 & 2 helicopters

Fuels/Materials Involved:
4 Chaparral (6 Feet)
Difficulty of Terrain - Extreme

Incident # SMD-08-22735 Verdugo Dispatch is the "single ordering point"
Evacuations: Mandatory Angeles National Fores above Sierra Madre approximately 100 homes.
Homes in the following areas are being evacuated:

• Western Section
  Oak Crest Drive north of Carter Avenue
  North of Carter Avenue East to Mira Monte Avenue to Mountain Trail
• Eastern Section
  Sierra Madre Lower and Upper Canyons
  All areas North of Grand View Avenue from Mountain Trail east to Santa Anita Avenue

Evacuation shelters have been set up at:

• Hart Senior Park House
  222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.
• Congregational Church
  170 W. Sierra Madre Blvd.