CFN - CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS - CAL FIRE NEWS : CA-SMD-Santa Anita - 490 acres

Monday, April 28, 2008

CA-SMD-Santa Anita - 490 acres - 23%

Update: Santa Anita Wildland Fire - 490 acres - 23%
Resources:
Hand crews 19
Engines 56
Helicopters 3
Water Tenders 3
Air Tankers 3
Dozers 2

Total personnel assigned to fire: 564

Santa Anita wildland Fire progression map

Santa Anita Wildland Fire

Fire progression, April 26-27, 2008
Credit: USDA Forest Service

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Summary

As of Monday, April 28, 2008, 6:00 a.m. PST, the Santa Anita Fire has burned 490 acres north of Sierra Madre, CA. Approximately 50% of the acreage burned is on National Forest System land within the Angeles National Forest, and 50% is within the corporate boundary of the City of Sierra Madre.

The fire is currently 23% contained, with most of the containment in the area surrounding Sierra Madre residences.

Southern California Interagency Incident Management Team 3 assumed command of the fire at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, 2008.

Fire information is available 24 hours/day by calling the Angeles National Forest Fire Information Center at 626-821-6700. The City of Sierra Madre Public Information can be reached at 626-355-7135.

Evacuations:

Approximately 1,000 people have been evacuated from Sierra Madre residences, from Oak Crest Drive across Carter Avenue to East Mira Monte Avenue, continuing down Mountain Trail Avenue, across Grandview Avenue to Santa Anita Avenue.

Mandatory evacuations remain in effect, but will be re-evaluated at 10:00 a.m. PST today (Monday, April 28, 2008). Residents needing to go to their homes to retrieve medications, etc., should contact the officer in charge in their neighborhood, who will then provide an escort to their homes.

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Hart Park House, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. The number for the American Red Cross is 626-799-0841.

Closures:

All Sierra Madre schools, public and private, are closed today, Monday, April 28, 2008.

Santa Anita Canyon Road (Chantry Flat Road), which accesses the Angeles National Forest, is closed.

Basic Information

Incident Type	Wildland Fire
Cause	Under Investigation
Date of Origin	04/26/2008 at 1500 hrs.
Location	City of Sierra Madre and Angeles National Forest (Los Angeles County)
Incident Commander	Dave Fiorella

Current Situation

Total Personnel	580
Size	490 acres
Percent Contained	23%
Fuels Involved	Brush, chaparral and light timber.
Fire Behavior	Slow to moderate rate of spread. Fire is expected to move downslope on the west side and northeast toward Chantry Flat today.
Significant Events	Structure protection was successful overnight in residences on the northern edge of the City of Sierra Madre, as the fire backed downslope.

Outlook

Planned Actions	Not available
Terrain Difficulty	Very steep terrain with loose rock.
Remarks	Not available

Weather

Current Wind Conditions	3-5 mph SW
Current Temperature	67 degrees
Current Humidity	19 %

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state. In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start – a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name. For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.

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