SIERRA MADRE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION ANNUAL PANCAKE BREAKFAST 

SATURDAY, MAY 4th 7 to 11 am 


SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2013

VOLUME 7 NO. 18

SIERRA MADRE 
TENNIS COURT 
RESURFACING 
- EXTENDED

The days the tennis courts at Sierra 
Vista Park and Memorial Park are 
closed for court resurfacing has been 
extended. 

Due to the curing process the court 
closure will continue through Sunday, 
May 5, 2013. Sierra Vista Park is 
located at 611 E. Sierra Madre Blvd., 
Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Memorial 
Park is located at 222 W. Sierra Madre 
Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Tennis 
courts at both locations will re-open 
to the public on Monday, May 6, 2013. 

For additional information please 
contact the Community Services 
Office at 626.355.5278.

SIERRA MADRE FIREFIGHTERS SEND 
STRIKE TEAMS TO SPRINGS AND 
CANYON FIRES

FIRE SAFE SIERRA MADRE - 
PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM 
WILDFIRE

By SM Fire Captain Rich Snyder

In California, hazardous vegetation is one of the major contributors to urban 
wildfires. Dry vegetation is the easiest fuel to ignite, but fortunately one of the 
simplest to abate. Wildfire danger is greatest to hillside homes, but dry grass, 
weeds, chaparral, and flammable landscaping surrounding your home can bring 
the fire to you, whether you live on a hillside or not. When fire starts, those 
shrubs ignite and explode, spreading fire to your house. The greatest wildfire 
danger is in the fall; however, as we saw last week in Monrovia, fires can happen 
any time of year. 

No homes were lost during the resent Monrovia “Madison” fire. Even with the 
over 200 fire fighters, 65 engines, dozers, fixed wing tankers and five helicopters 
fighting hard to protect the community, the outcome would have been much 
different if the fire had occurred during the fall when fuel moistures are low and 
the dry windy weather patterns that exist at that time of year are present.

The success battling wildfires is no accident. Fire departments put up a good 
fight; however, they can not do it alone. We rely on the help of homeowners who 
gave us a “fighting chance” by maintaining proper brush clearance around their 
homes.

Each year, The Sierra Madre Fire Department works with the residents in the 
foothills to help provide that “fighting chance” that is desperately needed to 
prevent a disastrous fire. This is done through an aggressive brush management 
program and by educating the residents on what to do before, during and after 
a brush fire.

Here is a list of the brush clearance requirements that you can use to protect your 
home:

Maintain the first 30 feet around any structure low and free hazardous 
vegetation.

Aggressively thin and trim the vegetation 30 to 100 feet around any structure.

Remove dead branches from trees and keep all braches 6 feet off the ground. 

Clear vegetation 10 feet from roadways.

Remove tree limbs that are within 10 feet of a chimney outlet.

Maintain 5 feet of vertical clearance between your roof and overhanging 
vegetation.

Keep all roof surfaces clear of dead leaves and twigs.

Post your street number on your house so it is visible from the street. 

Brush inspections of the homes north of Grandview begn May 1st. The success 
of battling brush fires starts with you. Give us that fighting chance by eliminating 
hazardous brush from around your home.

If you have any questions, or would like additional information, please contact 
the Sierra Madre Fire Department at 355-3611 extension 3.

 
When fire strikes, everyone pitches in. At press time, the Sierra Madre Fire 
Department had strike teams dispatched to both the Springs Fire and the Canyon 
Fire, north of the city. According to SMFD Chief Steve Heydorff, firefighters 
were working 24 hour shifts to assist in the containment of both fires. 
At the Spring Fire, engine OES (Office of Emergency Services) 281, pictured 
above, and Striketeam 1801A was “working 24 hour shifts doing mop up and 
catching spot fires.” 

SMFD “Water Tender 41is working at the Glendale Fire working with Glendale 
Engine 25”, said Heydorff.

He also noted that “Engine 41 and RA 41 are ready to respond to any emergency 
in town.” 

Inside this week: 

SIERRA MADRE

Calendar Page 2

Sierra Madre News Page 3/4

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JOIN THE CITY 
TEAM – APPLY 
TO BE A CITY 
COMMISSIONER

We want you to be a part of our City Team! 

The Sierra Madre City Council encourages citizen participation in its decision-
making process through the use of citizen commissions. Currently, there are 
five citizen commissions established by the Council to advise and assist them in 
dealing with specific problems.

Applications may be obtained at City Hall or the City website at http://
cityofsierramadre.com/commissions-boards-committees. Applications will 
be accepted until all positions are filled; however, it is recommended that 
applications for appointment for the beginning of the 2013-2014 fiscal year be 
submitted by Friday, June 7, 2013 to the City Manager’s Office.

The advisory bodies study a variety of topics in detail. After gathering all pertinent 
information, hearing arguments, and weighing values, they recommend to 
the Council what they consider the best action to take. In certain situations, 
commissions are empowered to make specific decisions, subject to appeal to 
the Council. Public notices on all commissions are prepared in compliance of 
the Maddy Act.

COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMISSION

The Community Services Commission is responsible for overseeing the City’s 
recreation and community services programs. The Commission oversees the 
general use of park facilities and matters relating to the community’s arts 
and recreational service needs. The Commission provides information and 
recommendations to the City Council in these areas. Meets the 3rd Monday at 
6:30 pm, in the City Hall Council Chamber

LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The responsibilities of the Library Board include the following: establishing 
Library policies and programs to ensure that quality programs are provided 
to the community, recommending an annual budget to the City Council for 
approval, and ensuring that efficient and effective services are provided at the 
Library. Meets the 4th Wednesday at 7:00 pm, in the City Hall Conference Room

PLANNING COMMISSION

The responsibilities of the Planning Commission fall into two broad 
categories: consideration of current land-use (i.e. applications for General 
Plan amendments, zone changes, specific plans, conditional use permits, tract 
maps, variances, and appeals of staff land-use decisions); and advising the City 
Council on City initiated amendments to the City’s General Plan. Meets the 1st 
and 3rd Thursday at 7:00 pm, in the City Hall Council Chamber

SENIOR COMMUNITY COMMISSION

The Senior Community Commission is responsible for defining the needs, 
locating and publicizing available resources, coordinating and initiating 
services and opportunities for the senior population of Sierra Madre. Meets the 
1st Monday at 3:00 pm, in the City Hall Council Chamber

TREE ADVISORY COMMISSION

The Tree Commission is an advisory body to the Director of Public Works, City 
Manager, Planning Commission, and City Council. The commission shall make 
recommendations to the Director of Public Works, City Manager, Planning 
Commission and the City Council as appropriate on matters involving care and 
maintenance of City-owned trees and trees on private undeveloped property. 
Meets the 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 pm, in the City Hall Council Chamber

For more information please visit www.cityofsierramadre.com or call 
626.355.7135.

citysealsmall
PASADENA/ALTADENA

Pg. 5

 Local Man Arrested For

Sex Crimes

 Pasadena Marathon 
Gets New Route

AROUND SG Valley Pg. 6

Remembering Dave March

Bob Eklund - Looking Up

 Cassini’s Pictures of Saturns 
Rings

ARCADIA NEWS Pg. 7

Bridge Work Delayed

Arcadia High School Reaches 
Another Milestone


MONROVIA/DUARTE

Pg. 8 

NBA’s Jason Collins

Leading The Way

EDUCATION & YOUTH

Pg. 9

 LaSalle’s Crystal Ball

 SM Middle School ‘s Bike

 To School Day

FOOD & DRINK Pg. 10 

Peter Dills and 

Baseball Metaphors

BEST FRIENDS Pg. 12

Animazonia Wildlife

THE GOOD LIFE Pg. 13

Savvy Senior

Senior Happenings

This and That

HEALTHY LIVING Pg. 14

ARTS / ENTERTAINMENT

BUSINESS TRENDS Pg. 15

OPINION Pg. 16

RIGHT TURN ONLY 

PUBLIC NOTICES Pg. 17

Sierra Madre Ordinance

PUSD Notice of Intent

LEGAL NOTICES 

Pgs. 18-21


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