Bobcat Fire

Bobcat Fire Recovery Meeting on Wednesday, January 27th, 2021 at 6PM. More information can be found on the LA County website.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.19.20 - 3:30PM
Evacuation warnings for all of Sierra Madre and Red Flag parking restrictions for the canyon areas are lifted effective 4:00pm on Saturday, September 19, 2020
Evacuation warnings for all of Sierra Madre and Red Flag parking restrictions for the canyon areas are lifted effective 4:00pm on Saturday, September 19, 2020

Evening Update from Chief Bartlett


Update from Chief Armalin and Chief Bartlett on the evacuation lift and the canyon areas

Update from Captain Rich Snyder on how the fire is being contained and how containment of the fire is determined

Update from Captain Karen Bustillos regarding canyon activity by fire crews


Update from Captain Snyder 9.15.20


Update from Fire Chief Bartlett and Police Chief Armalin


Acting Captain Karen Bustillos provides further information on the Fire Burnout Operations currently taking place.


Update from Captain Snyder 9.14.20

Update from Fire Captain Rich Snyder

Emergency City Council Meeting - Zoom Recording

BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE EVENING 9/16/20
The current status of the fire for Sierra Madre is that all contingency lines have held the fire in check. Fire crews have worked diligently today in the rough and steep terrain to establish perimeter lines that are intended to contain the southern portion of the fire.

Once the perimeter lines are complete, crews will monitor to make sure the lines have held. After validation, these perimeter lines will become a portion of the overall containment of the Bobcat Fire.

Today the evacuation orders for Sierra Madre residents east of Santa Anita Ave. and north of Elkins Ave. were lifted. However, Sierra Madre remains under evacuation warning at this time.

The order requiring streets to remain clear in the canyon areas of all vehicle, property, and debris expired at 6:00 pm. Red flag parking restrictions in the canyon areas will remain in place indefinitely.

When the Bobcat Fire first started, there was no imminent threat to Sierra Madre and informational updates on the fire were focused on the overall condition and status of the fire. As the Bobcat Fire moved toward Sierra Madre, communications became more frequent and detailed as it pertained to the Sierra Madre community. As the threat to Sierra Madre is diminished, communications will once again decrease. The City will not communicate via Nixle Alerts unless there is an immediate threat or substantial change to the status of the Bobcat Fire in regards to Sierra Madre.

The City will provide additional updates on the Bobcat Fire after daily Incident Command briefings.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.16.20 1PM
BOBCAT FIRE REPOPULATION ORDERS: A repopulation order, on September 16, 2020 4:00 PM, has been issued in Arcadia and Sierra Madre for the residents in the following areas: All residents-only north of Elkins Ave and East of Santa Anita Ave.

The hard work and efforts of the multi-agency firefighting crews, and cooperating partners resulted in lifting evacuation orders for residents north of Elkins Ave and east of Santa Anita Ave in the communities of Arcadia and Sierra Madre. Residents will be required to provide a valid identification upon returning to the affected area. Non-residents and those without proper identification will not be allowed to enter the area. The Sierra Madre Police Department will be at the ingress points along the evacuation zone to assist our residents in returning home. Additionally, SMPD will continue to patrol those areas throughout the next few days.

Fire crews worked overnight to protect our foothill neighborhoods. The Bobcat Fire made its way into the Chantry Flat area and there is much damage to the hillsides and roadways. The fire is continuing to burn westward through the Angeles National Forest along with spotting in nearby canyons. No structures in Sierra Madre have been impacted. The fire has now grown to over 44,000 acres and is 3% contained.

You will continue to see fire personnel in the canyon areas, however, they will not be limbing or clearing brush.

SAFETY: There are many hazards that may exist when returning to your home after a wildfire. These hazards can include fire ash, damaged utilities, exposed and burned structures, as well as hazardous materials. To protect yourself from these hazards, it is important to utilize personal protective equipment that can include breathing protection (N-95 rated respirators), protective clothing, gloves, and boots, as well as eye/face protection.

Red Flag conditions will remain in place until further notice, vehicles may not park on the streets in the affected areas. However, the Order to keep the streets clear in the canyon area will be lifted, will not be extended and will expire at 6:00 pm on September 16, 2020.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.16.20 9:30AM
All contingency lines held for the Bobcat Fire near Sierra Madre last night. The spots fires in Santa Anita Canyon and near Harvard Ridge were addressed and are no longer a concern. Today, fire crews will be putting a perimeter line around the southern portion of the fire near Sierra Madre. This fire has remained active due to steep terrain and inaccessible conditions. When fire crews are successful in placing this perimeter line we will start the monitoring period to ensure the fire is no longer advancing. Unified Command is working hard to contain the southern portion of the Bobcat Fire which is impacting the communities in the foothills. Locally, the fire has been held in position. Fire crews are starting to close all remaining openings for the fire. Meetings regarding repopulation of the evacuated area will take place this afternoon and an update will be provided for the evacuated residents east of Santa Anita and north of Elkins.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE - 9.15.20 7:15PM
Work continued throughout the day on the Bobcat Fire and the fire remained mostly in check. There was a seven-acre spot fire at the bottom of Santa Anita Canyon as well as a spot fire on Harvard Ridge, adjacent to the dozer line. Both of these spot fires were addressed. The City has extended the order in the canyon requiring residents to keep streets clear of all vehicles, property, and debris for an additional 24 hours. The extension of this order will allow fire personnel to continue their work fortifying the fire defense of the canyon. Work will continue through the night with heavy equipment and apparatus in the City, nighttime reconnaissance work, and firing out in the ridges above Sierra Madre. The firing out may lead to smoke or flames visible from the city. Residents in the evacuated area east of Santa Anita and north of Elkins remain under evacuation order. A meeting with unified command will take place tomorrow afternoon to determine when repopulation can occur. This is the last planned update on the Bobcat Fire for Sierra Madre for this evening unless conditions change. The next update will go out tomorrow morning.
ATHENS TRASH COLLECTION - CANYON RESIDENTS
In order to be sure that Emergency Crews have all of the advantages possible to maneuver throughout the “Upper” and “Lower” Canyon areas, the City has asked Athens to delay collection until Friday, September 18th for all Canyon accounts. Please do not put out your cans until late Thursday or early Friday. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.15.20 9:30AM
All of the hard work yesterday putting in control and contingency lines paid off. This included bulldozer lines, hand crew lines, fire retardant drops, and firing operations. The fire laid down in our area last night and did not progress towards the city.

Today’s goal is to continue to tie the control line together. That will involve completing bulldozer lines, hand lines, and firing out. You may see bulldozers creating fire breaks on the face of the mountain. Additionally, you will see smoke and possibly flames in Santa Anita canyon and in front of and behind the ridges. The planned firing out will remove fuel from in front of the fire.

We will continue to have engines coming in and out of our Sierra Madre canyons and additional work being done to help fortify the fire defenses. We want to thank the residents for their continued understanding, cooperation, and support of these efforts.

Things are looking better today for us than yesterday, and better than the day before. However, we need to remain vigilant as we will continue to battle this fire for some time.

Photo of the bobcat fire as of 9.15.20
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.14 9PM
The Bobcat Fire stayed north of Sierra Madre. Fire crews improved the dozer line that runs across Harvard Ridge. To the east, the "firing out" around the Clamshell and Wilderness Park are complete and crews continue to monitor and mop up the line. Sierra Madre received substantial air support throughout the day and into the evening to knock the fire down. Fire retardant was applied to buffer the dozer line, which is currently holding the fire in check.

In town, the strike teams assigned to the “Madre” Structure Protection Group began fortifying the canyon in case the fire makes its way down from the ridge. The strike teams identified and improved access points, trimmed vegetation, and preplanned hose placement. Hose was requested through the Incident Command and is planned to be put in place tomorrow.

Tonight Sierra Madre residents should expect to see a glow from the north, which is the fire, currently in check, behind the flame retardant fortified dozer line.

The City will provide additional updates if conditions change, but no later than after tomorrow morning’s Incident Command briefing. Overnight reconnaissance will determine if the line held.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.14 4:50PM
Please see the map at this link (https://bit.ly/2Fxeq9J) to be ready to evacuate should an evacuation order phase 2 be issued.

The only evacuation order currently issued is for properties east of Santa Anita and north of Elkins.

A phase 2 evacuation has not been issued at this point.

Sierra Madre remains under an evacuation warning.

Should an evacuation order for a Phase 2 evacuation be issued, the properties identified on this map will be ordered to evacuate.

Definitions of evacuations are described as followed:

Evacuation Warning - Residents should have evacuation plans in place, their emergency evacuation supplies organized, and their essential personal belongings accessible, in the event that an Evacuation Order is enforced.

Evacuation Order - Residents must evacuate immediately due to dangerous wildfire conditions.

Please be ready to evacuate.

Phase 2 Evacuation Map
 
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.14 4:30PM
The fire jumped over the contingency line and is burning on the ridgeline above the east side Little Santa Anita Canyon. You will notice two prominent smoke columns at the top of the canyon right now. I will be issuing an order in the next hour directing all properties in the canyon to remove any vehicles, personal property, debris, or any other object that is in the public right of way. Any property in the public right of way will be removed or towed beginning at 6:00 P.M. tonight. This evening, you will see fire personnel, police personnel, and public safety equipment in the streets preparing to fortify the canyon and make a final defense in an attempt to stop the fire from burning into these areas. In addition to this order, because the fire has changed, we will be updating our evacuation maps to expand the evacuation area to include properties outside of the canyon. These orders and updates have been prepared and will be released soon. Sierra Madre remains under an evacuation warning. The only evacuation order currently is for properties east of Santa Anita and north of Elkins. Definitions of evacuations are described as followed: Evacuation Warning - Residents should have evacuation plans in place, their emergency evacuation supplies organized, and their essential personal belongings accessible, in the event that an Evacuation Order is enforced. Evacuation Order - Residents must evacuate immediately due to dangerous wildfire conditions. Please be ready to evacuate.

Clear Roads Map for the Canyon
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.14 1:30PM
The Bobcat Fire remains active in the foothills above Sierra Madre, in the area west of Santa Anita Canyon and the Santa Anita Dam, in heavy-fuel and steep terrain. The Fire has bumped over the contingency-line that was put in place north of the canyon areas using dozers, hand crews, and phos-chek (fire retardant). Fire crews have started prepping the canyon areas should the fire eventually reach that point. You will see firefighters with chainsaws limbing up trees and vegetation to create better access for firefighting equipment.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.14 12:50PM
The mandatory evacuation order for all residents east of Santa Anita and north of Elkins in Sierra Madre remains in effect until further notice. City officials are working on a strategy to allow residents in the mandatory evacuation area to return safely, but do not have an estimated time as to when the mandatory evacuation order will be lifted. Repopulation of the evacuated area will be based on the current and projected status of the Bobcat Fire, including a review of the effectiveness of the perimeter lines which have been put in place to hold the fire. This decision will be made in conjunction with Incident Operations for the Bobcat Fire. All other areas of Sierra Madre remain under an evacuation warning. Residents need to be ready to evacuate should an evacuation order be issued. Definitions of evacuations are described as followed: Evacuation Warning - Residents should have evacuation plans in place, their emergency evacuation supplies organized, and their essential personal belongings accessible, in the event that an Evacuation Order is enforced; Evacuation Order - Residents must evacuate immediately due to dangerous wildfire conditions. The Red Cross has established an evacuation center at Santa Anita Race Track (285 W. Huntington Drive) in Arcadia. Residents accessing the evacuation center are asked to enter through Gate 5.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.14 10:40AM
Overnight the fire jumped the road 1/8-mile north of the Water Tank turnout above the dam and burned approximately 300 acres. At midnight the fire was burning from the bottom of Santa Anita Canyon to the peak. As of 5:00 a.m. this morning, the fire is burning south of the water tower above the road and holding in the canyon bottom behind the dam keeper’s house. It is unclear if the fire made it to the top over the bulldozer lines. Flames may be seen north of the canyon today, however, there is still plenty of terrain between the fire and the canyon. On the east-end (Wilderness Park/Clamshell Dam area), the fire looks good and crews finished yesterday’s burnout operation late last night. They will be doing additional burn operations this morning in the mouth of Santa Anita Canyon. Today, there are two Type 1 strike teams and one Type 6 (10 engines and 5 Patrols) assigned to Sierra Madre and an additional Type 1 strike team available, if needed. Additionally, Arcadia and Monrovia Fire Departments are providing a single engine and a water tender, respectively, for the City of Sierra Madre. Moreover, Sierra Madre has staffed an auxiliary engine (E241) to aide in fire support. Engine 41 and Rescue Ambulance 41 remain available to respond to the daily needs of the City. A Red Cross Evacuation Center has been established at Santa Anita Race Track, located at 285 W. Huntington Drive, Arcadia, CA 91107. Residents are advised to enter through Gate 5. To find out more information regarding the Evacuation Center, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767). Tune in to the City’s emergency radio station – AM 1630
 
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE - FOREST SERVICE 9.14 8AM
This morning the Bobcat Fire is at 36,366 acres and 6% containment. Crews today will be focused on protecting foothills communities and Mt. Wilson. To the north it stayed south of Highway 2 and west of 39. Tonight will be a virtual public meeting via Zoom at 6:30 PM

Map of the status of the Bobcat fire on 9.14.20 at 8AM
UPDATE 9.13 8:40PM - CITY MANAGER GABE ENGELAND
Sierra Madre residents, as promised, this is an update to my previous Nixle Alert sent at 6:10pm. We will send out another Nixle Alert on Monday, September 13, 2020 with updated information. The fire crews made great progress on the Bobcat Fire this afternoon and into the early evening. Air support was able to get a fire retardant line down covering the Manzanita Ridge and acting as a buffer to the fire should it start burning back towards Sierra Madre. This was completed in addition to dozer lines and hand lines. The fire burned across Santa Anita Canyon, but is currently in check and behind the front country. The fire will continue to burn and move this evening towards the northwest, potentially as much as 1.5 miles, but it has been pushed far enough to the north that flames will be less visible than yesterday and may result in only an orange glow for Sierra Madre tonight. We remain under an evacuation warning, except for the areas east of Santa Anita and north of Elkins. If the fire shifts or conditions change, we will advise the community through the channels listed below. Please continue to get information from Sierra Madre here: https://www.nixle.com/; www.CityofSierraMadre.com/bobcat; https://www.facebook.com/cityofsierramadre/; Thanks, Gabe
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE FROM CITY MANAGER
Sierra Madre residents, I want to provide an update on the fire so people know the resources we have assigned in Sierra Madre, as well as what to expect this evening. Currently Sierra Madre has 4 strike teams assigned to the city. Each strike team consists of 5 engines. We have a total of 10 type 1 engines, and 10 type 6 engines. The incident also has 2 air tankers (phos-chek airplanes), 2 helicopters, and a structure protection team that you will be able to observe working this side of the fire. This is in addition to numerous fire equipment and personnel. Incident command has done an excellent job of managing the resources assigned to the fire, and the Sierra Madre Fire Department, as part of unified command, has been working the fire locally and in conjunction with Arcadia and Monrovia. The Sierra Madre Police Department will be limiting access to only residents in the canyon areas through barricaded and guarded street entry. We have released color-coded maps of the 3 canyon areas that may require evacuation. We remain under an evacuation warning in Sierra Madre, but the only evacuations which have taken place are for properties east of Santa Anita and north of Elkins. You can view and download the evacuation maps as well as watch Fire Captain Rich Snyder’s explanation of the maps at www.CityofSierraMadre.com/bobcat. As the sun goes down and the smoke fully lifts, Sierra Madre residents will again be able to clearly see flames and will be able to observe how far the fire has moved. Please be assured that we are watching the fire locally, coordinating regionally, and working with incident command to keep Sierra Madre residents safe. We will provide another update this evening, after 8 p.m., when the incident command briefing is concluded. Please continue to get information for Sierra Madre here: https://www.nixle.com/; www.CityofSierraMadre.com/bobcat; https://www.facebook.com/cityofsierramadre/ Thanks, - Gabriel L. Engeland, City Manager
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE
Sierra Madre residents may be seeing apparatus from surrounding agencies driving throughout the city, parked on city streets and/or staging at various locations. These departments are familiarizing themselves with Sierra Madre neighborhoods and terrain in order to develop the best possible plan to combat the fire and protect structures, should the need arise. Units have been strategically placed throughout the city to best protect the citizens in a timely manner. Fire personnel may also be using various locations to stage units in preparation for possible fire attack. There are a total of 4 strike teams consisting of 10 fire engines and 10 fire patrols dedicated to Sierra Madre. Please steer clear of these areas in order to allow Firefighters to work on keeping Sierra Madre safe.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.13.20 - 1PM
For clarity, the only area of Sierra Madre under an evacuation order is east of Santa Anita and north of Elkins. This is 32 homes total. There are no other areas under evacuation orders. Sierra Madre is under an evacuation warning. The City has made evacuation plans for different areas of Sierra Madre that will be determined by how well we are able to battle the fire today. If an evacuation order is issued, it will come with sufficient time to evacuate safely. Please watch City facebook, www.cityofsierramadre.com/bobcat and sign up for nixle alerts.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.13.20 - 10:30AM
For the past several days we have been asking residents to be ready to evacuate should an evacuation order be issued. This morning at 9:00 a.m. an evacuation order was given to Sierra Madre residents with homes and property east of Santa Anita and north of Elkins. The rest of Sierra Madre remains under an evacuation warning, and residents in the upper and lower canyon should be ready to evacuate should a formal order be given. There is a potential this order will come as early as today. Any evacuation order issued will allow residents the necessary time to evacuate in a safe manner. Please remain calm and execute the individual plan you put together for yourself and your families should additional evacuation orders be issued. Please also check on your neighbors. As of 9:00 a.m. this morning the City of Sierra Madre has entered into unified command with Angeles National Forest and local agencies. Today at 11:00 a.m. the City Council will meet to declare a local emergency. Here is how we will communicate updates on the fire: Nixle Alerts, please sign up: https://www.nixle.com/; Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/cityofsierramadre; Web page: http://www.cityofsierramadre.com/bobcat ; Please stay safe and remain calm. A formal update on the status of the fire will be communicated through these channels regularly.
RED FLAG ALERT 9.13.20
The City is now activating it's Red Flag procedures for the canyon areas. This will allow fire personnel to navigate fire trucks through those areas. During a Red Flag Alert Day, it shall be unlawful, when authorized signs are in place giving notice, to park any vehicle on any of the following streets or portions thereof in violation of those posted signs:(1) Mount Wilson Trail; (2) Churchill Road; (3) Skyland Drive; (4) Fern Glen; (5) Fern Drive; (6) Idle Hour; (7) Canyon Crest Drive; (8) Orange Drive; (9) Woodland Drive; (10) Brookside Lane; (11) Sunnyside Lane; (12) Yucca Trail; (13) Holly Trail; (14) Sturtevant; and (15) Elm; (16) Pleasant Hill; (17) Old Ranch Road; (18) Forest Lane; (19) Casey; (20) Madre; (21) Hermosa North of Carter; (22) Auburn North of Grandview; (23) Canon Drive; (24) Oakcrest; (25) Carter; (26) Mount Wilson North of Mira Monte; (27) Alta Vista; (28) Vista Circle; (29) Woodland;
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.12.20 10:30PM
The Bobcat fire has entered the Chantry Flats area on the east side of Santa Anita Canyon. Sierra Madre remains under an evacuation warning, but mandatory evacuations are not in place. large flames can be seen when the fire hits heavy pockets of vegetation, it is not a fast moving fire. Currently there is no immediate threat to Sierra Madre. Please continue to be vigilant and be prepared to leave. Sierra Madre remains under an evacuation warning. We will continue to monitor the fire, and will update you should the status change. Sierra Madre remains under an evacuation warning, but mandatory evacuations are not in place.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.12.20 7PM
As of Saturday morning, the fire was 6% contained, marking some progress for firefighters who have been on the lines for days. Sierra Madre firefighters are actively engaged in laying phos-chek in areas around Sierra Madre in an effort to protect Sierra Madre from harm. You will also see air support craft continue to get water from Sierra Madre’s settling basins behind Sierra Vista Park. This is a coordinated effort between Sierra Madre, Los Angeles County, and Angeles National Forest Service. Most of the fire continues to burn in areas that are in terrain that is inaccessible. However, the fire has moved in some places to become easier for fire crews to fight the fire. The fire has begun to move towards Sierra Madre and flames are now visible in some areas near Sierra Madre. As the evening goes on, flames will be more visible as it continues to slowly burn in a north-west direction. The good news is that there are no wind events predicted for the next few days and that will alleviate any immediate threat to Sierra Madre. As of 5:00 pm today, they have begun water drops to slow the progress of the fire. It is important to note that this fire is not driven by wind, instead, it is driven by the rough terrain that makes it inaccessible in many places. Sierra Madre, along with the foothill cities of Monrovia, Arcadia, Bradbury, Duarte, Pasadena, and Altadena remain under an evacuation warning. What this means is that residents should evacuate and be READY to evacuate. Air quality has continued to decline across the San Gabriel Valley. Smoke advisories will remain in effect throughout the day and likely through the weekend. Here are tips for managing during times of poor air quality: Stay indoors, if possible. Keep windows and doors closed. Check local public health alerts and the Southern California air quality map. Take extra precautions to protect people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), the elderly and children, as they may be more likely to experience poor health if they breathe wildfire smoke. Avoid vigorous physical activity. Run your air conditioner if you have one. Make sure it has a clean filter and that it is recirculating the indoor air to prevent bringing additional smoke inside. Avoid using a whole-house fan or swamp cooler with an outside air intake. Avoid using indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces and candles. Do not rely on “dust masks” for protection. Paper masks can block large particles such as sawdust but do not protect lungs from the small particles or gases in wildfire smoke. Disposable respirators such as N-95 or P-100 respirators can offer some protection if they are worn properly and have a tight fit.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.12.20
TODAY: Fire crews saw the most activity in the north and south ends of the fire. The priority remains to strengthen containment lines and halt forward progression of the fire as it makes its way south towards the foothill communities. Additionally, crews are trying to hold the fire north of Hwy 39, while monitoring for spot fires. Both western and eastern sections of the fire continue heading into previous fire scars, lessening the fuel intensity for crews. The recent Ranch 2 Fire, Fish Fire and the 2009 Station Fire are helping to slow fire progression, however the Bobcat Fire continues to burn north and east where there is no fire history in the last 80 years and in the San Gabriel Wilderness. Smoke hindered growth today by keeping temperatures down. Night operations will continue to patrol the perimeter of the fire across Angeles Crest Highway 2 and State Route 39, as priorities remain to keep infrastructure to the south safe and maintaining the fire to the south and west. Aviation resources arrived later in the day to assist with suppression efforts. Firefighter and overhead resources on this fire remain valuable due to the ongoing wildfires across the state. YESTERDAY: Firefighters reached a containment of 6% on the southeastern end of the fire as winds pushed the fire northeast yesterday. Two LA County Blackhawks in conjunction with Forest aviation resources worked the perimeter control in the southwest portion of the fire that will continue into today.  Retardant drops were made in the north end as fire activity has mainly continued to grow in that area. Poor air quality due to smoke cover was experienced in the foothill communities. WEATHER: Continued warm and dry conditions with poor overnight humidity recovery along the ridgetops will allow active burning and fire growth through the night. Slight cooling is expected for the weekend however little change in daytime relative humidity in the teens and poor overnight recovery is forecasted to continue.  EVACUATIONS ALERTS: Evacuation warnings are in effect for Monrovia, Arcadia, Bradbury, Sierra Madre, Altadena, Duarte and Pasadena. At this time, no Evacuation Orders in these communities have been issued—however, it’s important to stay well-informed as this is an evolving incident. SUMMARY: The Bobcat Fire started on September 6th at 12:21. The fire is located near the Cogswell Dam and West Fork Day Use area. The fire is burning in heavy fuels with a rapid rate of spread. Along with California Team #1, the fire is currently managed under Unified Command by the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and cooperating fire departments.
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE - 9.11.20
Location of Origin: Angeles National Forest, Azusa, CA. Start date: September 6, 2020. Size: Approximately 23,890 acres. Percent Contained: 6%. Cause: Under Investigation. Resources Assigned: 540 personnel. TODAY: Fire crews focused on maintaining protection on the south end of the Bobcat fire as winds pushed the fire northeast today. Two LA County Blackhawks are currently flying working the perimeter control in the southwest portion of the fire. A containment of 6% was attained near the eastern edge of the fire where there is a burn scar from the Ranch2 Fire creating less intense fire behavior for fire crews. The northern portion of the fire has reached up into ridges near Angeles Crest Highway where retardant drops have been made. Steep terrain and dry fuels, some of which haven’t burned in the last 60 years, will create challenges for crews. Fire crews will continue working on opening dozer lines and utilizing the road system to slow progression of the fire. Local fire departments will continue to conduct structure protection planning and triage efforts within the foothill communities. Similar to today, poor air quality due to smoke cover will continue into tomorrow. YESTERDAY: Main objectives were to prepare and strengthen fire lines from completed dozer and handline work. As the day progressed and the dense smoke lifted, two air tankers, including a DC-10, were able to make several drops of fire retardant on the southwest portion of the fire to reinforce and strengthen previously applied fire lines.  Several more resources arrived at the fire late in the day, including a sky crane helicopter and two more hotshot crews. The fire behavior was very active to extreme with long-range spotting, tree torching, and visible slope runs. Nighttime operations continued into the evening to monitor fire behavior and growth. WEATHER: Continued warm and dry conditions with poor humidity recovery along the ridgetops will allow active burning and fire growth through the night.  Another trend toward abnormally high temperatures is expected through the weekend. EVACUATIONS ALERTS: Evacuation warnings are in effect for Monrovia, Arcadia, Bradbury, Sierra Madre, Altadena, Duarte and Pasadena. At this time, no Evacuation Orders in these communities have been issued—however, it’s important to stay well-informed as this is an evolving incident.
 
Letter from the Fire Chief

BOBCAT FIRE - BRIEFING
The Bobcat fire has continued to grow to 23,890 acres, moving in a northeasterly direction, with 0% containment. Over 530 Firefighting personnel are continuing to aggressively attack the fire. Smoke and Ash can be seen miles away from the many active fires throughout the region. Due to the increasing size of the fire, the foothill communities, including Duarte, Bradbury, Monrovia, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Pasadena and Altadena remain in Evacuation WARNING status, meaning residents should have evacuation plans in place, their emergency evacuation supplies organized, and their essential personal belongings easily accessible. Vehicles should be fully fueled, facing out in the driveways and ready to leave. An information hotline has been set up at (626)574-5208 from 8am to 8pm. Additional information can be found online at https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7152/ and https://www.cityofmonrovia.org. For more information on evacuation preparation, visit the LA County Fire Department’s Ready, Set, Go webpage at https://fire.lacounty.gov/rsg/
BOBCAT FIRE - VOLUNTARY EVACUATIONS LIFTED
(9.10.20) Voluntary Evacuations for all residents living above Grandview have now been lifted. Red Flag Warnings have been removed as of 8:00 p.m. last night. Over the last two days the fire has progressively moved north and east, away from the City of Sierra Madre. The Santa Ana winds have dissipated and currently do not pose a threat to our community. Based on this information, the City of Sierra Madre and the Sierra Madre Fire Department have determined it safe to remove the voluntary evacuations set in place. Residents are reminded to remain vigilant and ready to take immediate action should conditions worsen. The evacuation warning for Sierra Madre residents north of Sierra Madre Blvd issued by the County of Los Angeles remains in place. The Bobcat Fire has burned approximately 23,890 acres and remains 0% contained. Current air quality is extremely poor with heavy ash and smoke throughout the city. We urge you to please remain indoors and look after populations that may need extra support. The City of Sierra Madre and the Sierra Madre Fire Department continue to monitor the Bobcat Fire and are in constant communication with the incident commanders. We would like to thank our residents for their continued cooperation during this time. Please continue to look out for each other and help a neighbor in need. Be prepared with the Ready! Set! Go! Wildfire Action Plan that is available for download at fire.lacounty.gov/RSG
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 9.9.2020 - 1:40PM
The communities of MONROVIA, ARCADIA, SIERRA MADRE, BRADBURY, ALTADENA, DUARTE, PASADENA are currently under an Evacuation Warning. The City of Sierra Madre is advising all residents north of Grandview Avenue to voluntarily evacuate due to the Bobcat Fire. The Unified Incident Command of the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and cooperating agencies are coordinating public safety messages to alert residents in the foothills area below the fire to be prepared to evacuate, as there continues to be fire growth. Be advised this is an Evacuation Warning. Residents should have evacuation plans in place, organize their emergency evacuation supplies, and have essential evacuation personal belongings easily accessible. Vehicles should be fully fueled, facing out in their driveways and ready to leave. Please make those arrangements now. In addition, city officials of Arcadia and Sierra Madre have asked residents in these areas to voluntarily evacuate. Local law enforcement and fire departments have concerns about the timeframe it could take to evacuate safely and orderly. Sierra Madre and Arcadia border a common access road in their pre-identified evacuation zones. Affected residents in the voluntary evacuation area may want to consider relocating to temporary living arrangements if possible. The City of Sierra Madre and the Sierra Madre Fire Department are actively monitoring current weather and fire conditions related to the Bobcat Fire. The City is working closely with Los Angeles County, Angeles National Forest Service, and the cities of Monrovia, Pasadena, Arcadia, and Bradbury to coordinate resources. Current Evacuation Orders: The County of Los Angeles has issued an evacuation warning for several Foothills cities, including Altadena, Arcadia, Bradbury, Duarte, Monrovia, and Sierra Madre. The evacuation warning in Sierra Madre is for all residents north of Sierra Madre Boulevard. The City of Arcadia has issued a voluntary evacuation order for all properties north of Foothill Blvd. and east of Santa Anita Ave. The City of Sierra Madre has issued a voluntary evacuation warning for all residents north of Grandview. Voluntary evacuation should be considered for residents who need more time to evacuate their homes, need to make arrangements for healthcare or pets, or have other special circumstances. All other residents north of Grandview, in keeping with the County’s Ready, Set, Go plan should make reservations, accommodations, or other plans to evacuate. Weather: Santa Ana winds and high heat remain in the immediate forecast but winds are forecast to die-down this afternoon. Santa Ana wind events have the potential for shifting fire patterns that may threaten homes in the City’s urban-wildland interface. During this time there is potential for rapid fire spread. At ridgetop level, winds will likely remain northeast through Wednesday. Sierra Madre remains in a red flag warning until further notice. A red flag warning means that it is unlawful to park on designated streets in the canyon areas as indicated by those signs. As a result of the weather conditions, and keeping in line with the County’s Ready, Set, Go plan, the City is asking residents north of Grandview Avenue to voluntarily evacuate their homes, as described above. Air Quality: Sierra Madre residents with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children, are advised to stay indoors. Poor air quality conditions are a health threat and should be avoided by all residents in smoky communities. As part of your plan to get READY to be SET to GO, residents should make evacuation plans now, including overnight accommodations. Residents north of Grandview are in SET mode, while all other residents should be in READY mode. Additional Information: Temporary evacuation sites for those displaced are being prepared at the Santa Anita Race Track (limited capacity). To find out more information regarding the evacuation centers, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767). For the latest information on the Bobcat Fire, please visit: City Website: cityofsierramadre.com Nixle: Text zip code to 888777 National Forest Service: (626) 574-5208
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE 8:20PM 9.8.2020
The City of Sierra Madre is advising all residents north of Grandview Avenue to voluntarily evacuate due to the Bobcat Fire. The City of Sierra Madre and the Sierra Madre Fire Department are actively monitoring current weather and fire conditions. Santa Ana winds and high heat are forecast throughout the evening, creating a potential for shifting fire patterns that may threaten homes in the City’s urban-wildland interface. The City is asking residents north of Grandview Avenue to voluntarily evacuate their homes. Residents should make evacuation plans now, including overnight accommodations. Evacuation sites for those displaced are being prepared—more information will follow. Those with large animals, horses and cattle, should begin to move those animals now. Accommodations are being made for animals at the Pomona Fairgrounds and Santa Anita Race Track (limited capacity). To find out more information regarding the evacuation centers, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767). Those residents who need more time to evacuate, please make arrangements or plans to evacuate now. As a reminder, residents following Ready, Set, Go! should have evacuation plans in place, organized their emergency evacuation supplies, and have essential evacuation personal belongings easily accessible. Vehicles should be fully fueled, facing out in their driveways and ready to Go! Sierra Madre residents outside the evacuation zone with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children, are advised to stay indoors. Poor air quality conditions are a health threat and should be avoided by all residents in smoky communities. For the latest information on the Bobcat Fire, please visit: City Website: cityofsierramadre.com Nixle: Text zip code to 888777 National Forest Service: (626) 574-5208
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATE
The Bobcat Fire has now consumed 8,553 acres and remains at 0% containment. The fire remains to the east of Sierra Madre and does not pose an immediate threat to our community. However, mild Santa Ana winds are forecasted for tonight and tomorrow (Wednesday). We ask that you continue to remain vigilant, particularly in the canyon areas. Please prepare to be READY to get SET to GO in the event that the fire changes direction and moves toward Sierra Madre. Please check on your neighbors and encourage them to sign up for Nixle Alerts if they have not already done so. Updates will go out via Nixle Alerts at noon and 6:00 pm daily. Please only call 9-1-1 if you are experiencing an emergency.
RED FLAG ALERT
The City is now activating it's Red Flag procedures for the canyon areas. This will allow fire personnel to navigate fire trucks through those areas. During a Red Flag Alert Day, it shall be unlawful, when authorized signs are in place giving notice, to park any vehicle on any of the following streets or portions thereof in violation of those posted signs:(1) Mount Wilson Trail; (2) Churchill Road; (3) Skyland Drive; (4) Fern Glen; (5) Fern Drive; (6) Idle Hour; (7) Canyon Crest Drive; (8) Orange Drive; (9) Woodland Drive; (10) Brookside Lane; (11) Sunnyside Lane; (12) Yucca Trail; (13) Holly Trail; (14) Sturtevant; and (15) Elm; (16) Pleasant Hill; (17) Old Ranch Road; (18) Forest Lane; (19) Casey; (20) Madre; (21) Hermosa North of Carter; (22) Auburn North of Grandview; (23) Canon Drive; (24) Oakcrest; (25) Carter; (26) Mount Wilson North of Mira Monte; (27) Alta Vista; (28) Vista Circle; (29) Woodland;
BOBCAT FIRE UPDATES
Due to the Bobcat Fire, the City of Sierra Madre is advising all residents to be vigilant. While the fire is not posing an immediate threat, residents in the canyon areas should prepare for evacuation in the event that current conditions change. Please share this information with your neighbors and encourage your neighbors to sign up for Nixle Alerts and follow us on Facebook if they have not already done so.