Mountain Views News          Saturday, October 13, 2012

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Mountain Views-News Saturday, October 13, 2012 

THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE: 
WAS MRS. O’LEARY’S COW 
GUILTY? By Pat Birdsall

 The second week in October is always observed 
as Fire Prevention Week, but many people don’t 
know why that is. Well, this is why...

 A great fire in Chicago, Illinois occurred on 
October 8, 1871, but continued into, and did 
most of its damage, on October 9, 1871. The 
tragic conflagration killed 250 people, left 
100,000 homeless after destroying more than 
17,400 structures and burning over 2,000 acres. 
The fire started on a small dairy farm owned by 
an Irish an immigrant, Mrs. Catherine O’Leary. 
Lore has it that one of Mrs. O’Leary’s cows got 
jumpy and kicked over a kerosene lantern in the 
barn igniting the straw and then it progressed 
rapidly from there. 

 Since 1922, Fire Prevention Week has been 
observed as the Sunday through Saturday period 
in which October 9th falls. It’s a great time to make 
sure your home is ready in case of emergency. 
One quarter of all U. S. households lack working 
smoke detectors! You should have one for each 
level of your home and in several locations 
throughout your house. They should be tested 
each month and batteries replaced annually. The 
smoke detector itself should be replaced every 10 
years. There are also smoke detectors/alarms for 
those with mild or moderate hearing loss.

 If the above statistic includes you, experts 
say you should pick up several smoke detectors 
at your local hardware store or big-box home 
improvement store. We are fortunate in Sierra 
Madre to have a local hardware store. It’s a 
rare commodity these days. Arnold’s Frontier 
Hardware has been giving our residents and 
nearby communities, quality merchandise and 
old-fashioned service. Basil Kruger, the current 
owner, feels so strongly about this topic that 
he is offering a 20% discount to seniors who 
purchase First Alert Smoke detectors and a 20% 
discount to seniors who purchase First Alert fire 
extinguishers(1-A :10-B:C). He is offering this 
discount at his Frontier Hardware in Duarte as 
well. It’s located at 2137 E. Huntington Dr. 

 In America, a fire starts in a residential home 
every 83 seconds...

 Fire extinguishers are a must for every home 
and fire officials recommend one for the kitchen, 
the garage and the workshop. With so many 
fire extinguishers to choose from, selecting the 
proper one for your home can be a daunting 
task. However, an extinguisher that can be 
used for various kinds of fires (A- C) is highly 
recommended. 

*Class A rated is for trash, wood and paper.

*Class B rated is for flammable liquids such as 
gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. 

*Class C rated is for electrical equipment such as 
appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets. 
Never use water to extinguish class C fires, the 
risk of electrical shock is far too great!

The other types of extinguishers are more 
industry related; those specified for chemical 
laboratories or restaurant and cafeteria kitchens, 
for example.

How to use a fire extinguisher: Remember 
the word PASS when you have to put a fire 
extinguisher to use:

P- Pull the pin.

A- Aim at the base of the fire from 6 feet away.

S- Squeeze and hold the trigger.

S- Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire.

 

 Lastly, the fire did start near Mrs. O’Leary’s 
barn...however; she was tucked in for the night 
in her bedroom and her five cows were tucked 
in as well in their barn. It made for a good story 
for more than 130 years but in actuality, the long 
drought, the hot summer and a city built almost 
entirely of wood were the main factors in the 
disaster. 

Verdict: Mrs. O’Leary’s cow was, NOT GUILTY! 

REMEMBRANCE


ROSE FAFACH

Dec. 15, 1925 – Oct. 6, 2012

 Rose Fafach passed away in her home peacefully 
surrounded by loved ones. 

 The youngest of six children born of Italian 
emigrants, Rose was proud to be first generation 
Italian American. During World War II Rose 
worked on B-17 bombers in Detroit, Michigan and 
many friends referred to her as Rosie the Riveter. 

 After her husband’s death she became very active 
in Sierra Madre as a Senior Center Volunteer and 
working with the Commission on Aging. In 1996, 
she was awarded Older American of the Year and 
shared this moment with her family as they joined 
her in the Sierra Madre Fourth of July Parade. She 
was very independent, had an incredible work 
ethic, and her children remember her most for her 
love, generosity and sense of humor.

 Rose was preceded in death by her husband 
Delchi Fafach Sr in 1986. Rose is survived by her 
sister Maria Bolla, her children, Paula Hanson, 
Del Fafach, Karla Caprari and their spouses, seven 
grandchildren, Eric, Nik, Delchi, Daniel, Luke, 
Devin, Gina, and their spouses; and five great 
grandchildren.

 A Rosary was held Thursday, October 11 at 7:00 PM at Cabot & Sons Chapel, Pasadena. A 
Celebration of Life service will be held October 29, at 10:00 AM at St. Rita’s Church, Sierra Madre. In 
lieu of flowers , donations may be made in Rose’s name to: Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, 
700 No. Sunnyside Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. 

DON’T CHECK THAT BOX....YET

Take a moment to hear the objective truth about our State & Local Ballot 
Propositions!

On Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at 12:00 noon, the Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club in conunction 
with the Pasadena League of Women Voters will sponsor a panel of speakers that will give 
both the Pros and Cons on the eleven statewide and four local ballot propositions.

 This will be an educational forum where the speakers will not take a position, but rather 
given the public an objective, informed review of the measures you are asked to vote on.

 The forum will be held at The Lodge (Formerly the Masonic Temple), 33 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre. 
The forum is free. Lunch will be served at noon for a cost of $10. For lunch reservations call 626-355-0728.


Sierra Madre Police Blotter

Police Activity From October 1-7, 2012

Monday October 1, 2012

A burglary occurred in the 300 block of east Grandview Avenue in which an unknown suspect(s) 
pried open a side door to the residence. Once inside, the suspect(s) ransacked selective closets and 
cupboards and removed property. A neighbor reported seeing a black truck in the driveway earlier 
that day but assumed it was related to the family moving out of the residence. 

Tuesday October 2, 2012

A bicyclist travelling down Santa Anita Canyon Road near Arno drive, collided with the guard rail as 
he was negotiating a curve. The cyclist was thrown over the handlebars and onto the roadway. The 
bicyclist sustained injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment. It is suspected that the 
cyclist was travelling at an unsafe speed. 

A resident reported that she had been receiving threatening phone calls from a former acquaintance 
and guest. The Department assisted the resident in obtaining a restraining order and initiated an 
investigation into the matter. To date, attempts to contact the other party have been unsuccessful. 

Saturday October 6, 2012

At 1:15am officers observed a vehicle travelling south on Baldwin Avenue swerve over the roadway 
dividing line. After stopping the vehicle, it was determined that the driver had been drinking and he 
was unable to successfully pass the Field Sobriety Test. The driver (male 21 years of age) was arrested 
for DUI. 

Sunday October 7, 2012

At 2am an officer observed a vehicle travelling southbound on Baldwin Avenue at Orange Grove 
Avenue and noticed that the vehicle did not have any license plates displayed. During the traffic stop, 
the officer suspected that the driver had been drinking and conducted a field sobriety test. The driver 
(male, 20 years of age) was subsequently arrested for DUI.

Sierra Madre Search and Rescue

During the month of September, Sierra Madre Search and Rescue (SMSR) responded to half a dozen calls 
for assistance. A selected set of calls are described below.

Williams Fire, San Gabriel Canyon: The Team provided command post support to the Los Angeles 
County Sheriff Department’s (LASD) Emergency Operations Bureau. Team members worked with 
deputies to develop supplemental evacuation plans for mountain areas at risk from the Williams fire. 
Training in the Incident Command System (ICS) allows search and rescue team members to fill a 
variety of roles during large or small incidents. 

Injured Hikers, Chantry Flat/Big Santa Anita Canyon: Sierra Madre Search and Rescue responded 
to reports of an injured hiker below Chantry Flat near Hermit Falls. Rescuers arrived on scene to 
find a hiker suffering from a shoulder injury resulting from a slip on algae near the falls. The hiker 
had attempted to stabilize the injury, but had fallen a second time and, due to his injuries, was unable 
to self-rescue. Based on their medical assessment, on-scene rescuers determined that a helicopter 
evacuation was warranted. LASD’s Air-5 was able to extract the injured hiker via hoist and transport 
him to Huntington Memorial Hospital. 

Critical Missing, Chantry Flat/Big Santa Anita Canyon: Forest Service personnel received a report 
of an elderly hiker missing in the Robert’s Camp area below Chantry Flat. A number of factors 
indicated that the missing individual could be at significant risk due to health concerns. SMSR 
responded and quickly deployed search crews along key trails in the area. The subject was found 
uninjured and escorted back to Chantry Flat. A search for individuals missing in the mountains 
is considered an emergency. Age, mental or physical health 
conditions (e.g., Alzheimers), required medications, weather 
and preparedness/experience can often create life-threatening 
situations for someone missing for even a short time. Waiting 
24 hours is not necessary and rescue teams encourage you to 
limit delays in calling for assistance if someone is missing in the 
mountains.

Mutual Aid Request: Stranded Hiker, Eaton Canyon: SMSR 
received a request from Altadena Mountain Rescue (AMRT) to 
assist in the rescue of a hiker stranded on a cliff between the First 
and Second Waterfalls in Eaton Canyon. SMSR joined AMRT, LA 
County Fire and Pasadena Fire on scene at the command post. 
Field crews were deployed to effect a ground-based rescue after 
several unsuccessful attempts at a hoist rescue via helicopter. SAR 
team members from SMSR and AMRT ascended Acrophobia 
Ridge and set up for a high angle rope rescue of the uninjured but 
stranded hiker. Rescuers were lowered to the hiker from above, 
secured him in a rescue harness and brought him approximately 
250’ to the ground. 

As we shift into more winter-like weather patterns, outdoor 
recreationalists are reminded that being prepared is crucial for 
a safe trip into the mountains. Ensure that you are prepared for 
changes in the weather and shorter daylight hours by carrying 
sufficient warm clothing and a light source as part of your 10 
essentials. Remember to make sure someone knows where you’ve 
gone and when you will return. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s 
Department’s Hiker Plan is a good way to document your plans.

For 60 years the all-volunteer Sierra Madre Search and Rescue 
team has been responding to calls for help in the local mountains 
and beyond. Funded entirely by private donations, SMSR provides 
a range of public programs on wilderness safety in addition to its 
search and rescue activities. The Team never charges for any of its 
services. 

For more information, including how to arrange a wilderness 
safety demonstration for your school or group, visit www.smsr.
org.