Triple Digit Temps Hamper Firefighters’ Efforts
By Terry Miller
An intense heat-wave over the past week sent hundreds of firefighters into attack mode battling several wildfires in our immediate area – some of which were arson-related.
The first of several was the Cabin Fire which consumed 1,500 acres of brush. The Cabin Fire started at 1:07 p.m. on Aug. 14. As of Tuesday, the fire was 1,500 acres and 90% contained. Ten firefighters were evacuated with minor injuries. About 639 personnel are on scene. The location of the fire was three miles north Rincon-Redbox Rd. off HWY 39. The fire is slated to be fully contained by today (Thursday.)
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) that was in effect and any private aircraft or drone that violated the TFR would face serious criminal charges.
Another fire broke out near the Rio Hondo River in Montebello on Sunday afternoon which quickly grew to 200 acres by evening, closing roads, ordering evacuations plus burning an oil field. This fire was the result of arson.
At Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, the Legg Lake and shooting range areas of the park were evacuated, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.
A homeless man was arrested on suspicion of setting that fire, authorities said Sunday evening.
Several structures were set ablaze by another blaze, the so-called Warm Fire, which sent massive plumes of smoke high into the air over the Lake Castaic area.
Firefighters made water drops as the blaze charred 300 acres from Sunday afternoon into Monday morning, US Forest Service Battalion Chief John Flores said.
The blaze was 75 percent contained as of Tuesday afternoon. Flores said heat was a concern for firefighters dousing the flames. However, the weather has cooperated and temperatures have come down from the weekend’s triple digits.
At least seven firefighters were injured battling the blazes, suffering from dehydration, heat exhaustion, smoke inhalation and one bee sting. The causes of the fires remain under investigation but as reported earlier, one person has been arrested. High temperatures and fires are a dangerous combination, but relatively calm winds helped, according to fire officials.
On Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015 around 7:30 a.m., Arcadia Police responded to the call of a suspicious person on the property of the U.S. Forestry Headquarters. Officers contacted a subject who had matches in his pocket and had gathered kindling, twigs, and sticks and stacked them underneath a large tree to start a fire. Officers arrested the subject for attempted arson and identified him as 59-year old Ronald Watson of Sierra Madre, who was also on parole for arson. Watson was booked at the Arcadia Police Department jail and is currently being held in custody at L.A. County jail without bail.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Arcadia Police Department at 626-574-5151. If you prefer to provide information ANONYMOUSLY, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the tip web page at Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers.
