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Mountain Views News Saturday, January 11. 2025

EATON CANYON FIRE 
BLACKENS 13,690+ ACRES, 
DEATH TOLL AT EIGHT

Story and Photo By Dean Lee

Arial photographs and video over Altadena Friday 
morning show an otherworldly landscape after 
the Eaton Canyon fire destroyed an estimated 7,000 
structures and killed at least three people. At press 
time the fire was 13% contained and still burning 
near the summit of Mount Wilson. 

“We are relieved to report that the flare-up of the Eaton 
Fire near the [Mount Wilson] Observatory seems 
to be under control at the moment,” Mount Wilson 
Observatory staff said. “There are fires below the 
towers and parking lot but fire crews are monitoring 
the situation, letting the fire consume the fuel.”

Four firefighters and an unknown number of people 
have been injured.

The fire burned south as far as Highland Street and 
East Woodbury Rd. in Pasadena. 

As of Friday The Los Angeles County Parks Department 
had started to tally losses. 

“Sadly, our beloved Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 
Farnsworth Park –Davies Community Center– on 
the National Historic Register, and the Altadena Golf 
Course Club House and adjacent buildings were destroyed 
in the Eaton fire,” department staff said in a 
statement. “Currently, Charles White and Loma Alta 
parks in Altadena have fire damage.”

Among other losses were a number of restaurants, eateries and bars, including Fox's diner, 
the pizzeria Side Pie, Pizza of Venice, Café de Leche, the Little Red Hen Coffee Shop, Everest 
burgers and the Rancho Bar. Minik Market also said the business had been lost. 

“Minik Market wasn’t just a shop; it was a gathering place for our community—a space where 
neighbors became friends and where everyone felt welcome,” owners Gamze and Jon said. 
“Losing it has been devastating.” 

Pasadena Humane said they have taken in over 300 animals due to evacuations.

“We are starting to see many animals coming in with burns and injuries,” they said. “These 
animals are being treated in our ICU. We are providing them with pain medications, wound 
care, fluid, and oxygen as needed. We’re working with shelters across the state who have offered 
to take in the animals that were already in our care so that we can focus on providing 
resources to the displaced animals.” 

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna 
said that Governor Gavin Newsom had approved their request to deploy the California National 
Guard to support law enforcement. CalGuard servicemembers should have arrived 
Friday. 

A curfew was implemented in the fire regions starting Friday from rom 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.


FROM THE MONASTERY FIRE UPDATE

FROM: Fr. Febin Barose, C.P 

 Retreat Center Director and Director of Ministry"

"Dear Friends,

It is with heartfelt emotion and in solidarity with all those affected and lost their homes 
that I update you on what we know about the Eaton Canyon fires affecting Mater Dolorosa. 
The notice regarding the fire arrived right after dinner yesterday. We had about 
60 people in the house. After the city management alerted us to the situation, with the 
teamwork and coordination of our staff and the Passionist community, we safely and 
calmly evacuated everyone to their cars and on to their respective places. Facilities Director 
Janet Selinske, Executive Chef Ricardo Sola, and kitchen staff on duty are troopers. 
There were long lines at hotels but we were able to find one by midnight for our 
Passionist Community members.

This morning (Wednesday), Ricardo and I were able to get into the retreat center. Seeing 
the area filled with smoke and dust was devastating and heartbreaking. We found 
the garage, apartment, and hermitage fully burned down. The Seven Sorrows Garden, 
Paul of the Cross fountain, and stations of the cross have fire damage. As we went into 
the budling, we found the De Loor hall roof thoroughly shattered with water damage. 
The administrative offices, especially the ones on the front side, have been completely 
ruined. I could not see severe damage to the retreat center’s East and West wing and the 
Community residence on the third floor, but all were covered in thick dust. We could 
not stay long because of the intensity of the smoke. We drove down the hill and noticed 
the damage to the neighboring houses some completely and others partially. I am still 
trying to process these things, along with our staff and community.

We are showered with lots of prayerful support from many people at this point. The 
greatest blessing is we all are safe, and I am so grateful! My dear friends, at this point, 
we are unsure about when we can get back to our property and resume our mission and ministry. The retreat center will be closed for the foreseeable future. We will update you when we 
have more information. Please be patient with us as we the Mater Dolorosa team and Holy Cross Province are trying to digest this devastation and are working with diligence, prudence and 
wisdom. Most of our staff have been evacuated and deal with house and property losses. Please continue to pray for us and all those affected by it.

It makes complete sense to understand that our faith is tested on fire! But we are pilgrims of hope as Pope Francis exhorted us this year. Hope will not disappoint us. We will recover and be 
back serving you again. 

POST OFFICE UPDATE

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - 

Some post offices that were affected by wildfires have resumed retail services 
and mail delivery in areas designated as ``safe'' throughout Los Angeles 
County, while some offices have been assigned temporary pickup locations, 
officials said today.

 Regular services have reopened at the La Canada Flintridge and Malibu 
Post Offices, according to the United States Postal Service.

 The following post offices' retail and delivery services have been relocated 
where customers will be able to pick up mail on the effective dates:

 -- ALTADENA POST OFFICE 2271 Lake Ave., mail pickup 

 location at Pasadena Post Office, 600 Lincoln Ave.;

 -- SIERRA MADRE, 

 ARCADIA (WHEELER)

 ARCADIA (DUARTE RD.)

 EAST PASADENA (Colorado Blvd) and 

 MONROVIA are operating on their normal schedule at 

 press time.

 The post office can forward mail to a temporary location to people who 
were affected. An Official Mail Forwarding Change of Address Order to 
reroute their mail, including packages and letters, can be completed at 
moversguide.usps.com, or by filling out a PS Form 3575 at any post office.

 More information about postal products and services can be found by

calling 800-275-8777. 

Additional retail locations can be found at tools.usps.com/locations/.


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com