3

Mountain View News Saturday, January 11. 2025

National 
Guard 
Arrives in 
Pasadena

Local Officials Vow to Rebuild

Pasadena Drinking Water 
Impacted by Eaton Fire

 
City officials are advising that 
the Eaton Fire caused damage 
to several City of Pasadena 
reservoirs and pump stations, 
potentially impacting water 
quality within the areas shown 
in gray on the map above.

 According to officials, “while 
the extent of the damages cannot 
be evaluated as of Friday due to 
the ongoing fire situation and 
limited accessibility, the water 
systems that serve the impacted 
areas may be compromised, 
including potential debris and 
other matter from fire damage. 
Therefore, the city issued a do-
not-drink water notification 
alert, last Tuesday, to notify 
and protect the health of our 
community.”

 The State Water Resources 
Control Board, Pasadena 
Public Health Department, and 
Pasadena Water and Power 
(PWP) advise the Pasadena 
community in the identified 
areas to not use tap water for 
drinking and cooking until 
further notice.

 In the impacted areas, do not 
drink tap water – Bottled water 
should be used for all drinking 
(including baby formula and 
juice), brushing teeth, washing 
dishes, making ice and food 
preparation until further notice. 
This also applies to pets and 
domestic animals. Additionally, 
do not try to treat the water 
yourself. Boiling, freezing, 
filtering, adding chlorine or 
other disinfectants, or letting 
water stand will not make the 
water safe to drink.

The city is working diligently 
to address the issue and is 
committed to ensuring the 
safety and well-being of the 
Pasadena community. PWP is 
prioritizing the necessary water 
infrastructure repairs, while 
continuing its standard for daily 
water quality testing.

 For more information, call 
PWP 24-Hours (626) 744-4138.

 Residents being 
allowed a single visit 
to their homes.

 
In response to a request 
from Los Angeles County, 
Governor Gavin Newsome 
deployed the California 
National Guard to the 
Los Angeles area Friday 
including Pasadena to 
assist with law enforcement 
duties in communities 
affected by the wildfires. 
Members of the California 
National Guard are in 
Pasadena and Altadena to 
help protect the homes, 
businesses and properties 
impacted by the Eaton Fire.

 Law enforcement is 
allowing residents in the 
evacuation area a single visit 
to access their homes with 
reasonable verification. 
We encourage residents to 
be prepared to gather any 
and all documents or items 
needed during this one-
time entry.

 “Residents who’ve 
evacuated have faced 
unimaginable devastation, 
displacement, and loss,” 
Los Angeles County Chair 
Kathryn Barger said. “We 
must stand up against 
opportunistic people who 
want to prey on these 
victims. Los Angeles 
County will not stand 
by and allow an already 
traumatic experience to be 
further compounded.” 

 As of Thursday afternoon, 
the Sheriff’s Department 
had arrested 20 people for 
looting. The Sheriff said 
local law enforcement has 
been working around the 
clock to protect residents’ 
property and the 400 
National Guard members 
who will be deployed will 
expand the efforts already 
underway. 

 The National Guard 
was expected to deploy 
Thursday evening and 
will be helping local 
law enforcement with 
traffic control and critical 
infrastructure protection. 

 “This effort will allow 
law enforcement to free 
up our resources and 
move personnel to other 
critical areas throughout 
the County, becoming a 
force multiplier,” Sheriff 
Robert G. Luna said. “This 
will help send a stronger 
message to keep people 
out of the impacted areas 
so we don’t continuously 
victimize those who’ve lost 
their homes.”

 The curfew will apply to the 
two current fire evacuation 
areas and will be in place 
from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for 
areas under mandatory 
evacuation orders.

 For more information 
visit: CityOfPasadena.net.


Pictured top: LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger speaks 
at a press conference as Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo 
stands by. Pictured right, aerial view of Altadena fire Friday. 
Pictured left. A house is destroyed by fire on Highland street 
in Pasadena. Photos by Dean Lee/MVNews

 By Dean Lee 

 Against the backdrop of 
thousands of evacuees and with 
the Eaton Canyon fire still raging 
just miles away, dignitaries 
and elected official held their 
first briefing Wednesday with 
a consensus that communities 
devastated by wind and fire 
would be rebuilt.

 “We will put out the fire and then 
it will be time to rebuild,” said 
Pasadena City Manager Miguel 
Márquez. “In this community we 
may get knocked down but we 
always pick ourselves up. Many 
thanks to our first responders, 
our city staff, our city council, 
our county state and federal 
partners... and most of all our 
residents. We will not relent, we 
will heal, we will rebuild.”

 He continued, “These last 22 
hours did not bring us down, 
they made us Pasadena strong.”

 After taking a tour Wednesday 
with Pasadena Mayor Victor 
Gordo, of the burned 
areas, LA County 
Supervisor Kathryn Barger said 
the experience was surreal.

 “It is without words, that I 
can even explain to you what is 
taking place... my heart is heavy... 
but I have to say that we met with 
the governor who also met with 
the president that resources both 
financial, boots on the ground, 
are here and we will continue to 
fight this fight,” Barger said. “We 
will rebuild.”

 Congresswoman Judy Chu had 
flown in from Washington D.C.

 “President Biden has declared 
this a national disaster. She said. 
“So now the mechanics are in 
place for people to get assistance 
for recovery from FEMA. Our 
office will be ready to assist in the 
recovery from these fires.”

 State Assemblymember John 
Harabedian said that for those 
that lost homes, businesses, 
property, “We are going to help 
you rebuild, we are going to do 
everything we can to fight for 
you every day, now, this week, 
over the next couple of months 
and years to make sure you get 
your life back.”

 Gordo said that the biggest 
challenges will be transitioning 
people who have lost their 
home into permanent housing. 
“We have hundreds of homes 
that have been destroyed. It’s a 
challenge that we are going to 
engage the county, the state and 
the federal government.” 

Pasadena Officials Caution 
over Inhaling Smoke & Ash

 

 As part of the response to the 
Eaton Fire, Pasadena Public 
Health Department urges 
residents affected by wildfire 
smoke to take steps to protect 
their health by staying indoors 
and avoiding outside activity, 
if possible, to prevent the 
inhalation of smoke and ash.

 Smoke and ash from wildfires 
can be unhealthy, particularly for 
vulnerable people such as older 
adults, children, individuals 
with respiratory illnesses or 
asthma, and pregnant people. 
Wildfire smoke contains fine 
particles which are respiratory 
irritants, and when inhaled 
deeply, can affect the lungs and 
the heart. Exposure to high 
concentrations of fine particles 
can cause persistent cough, 
runny nose, phlegm, wheezing, 
and difficulty breathing. Urban 
wildfires can lead to potentially 
greater risks to health because 
they often release more toxic 
pollutants, due to the burning of 
synthetic materials like plastics 
and metals found in buildings.

 Smoke from wildfires can also 
cause eye irritation, reduced 
lung function, and bronchitis. 
Breathing smoke can also make 
asthma symptoms worse. People 
with underlying lung or heart 
problems should limit their 
exposure by staying indoors.

 People who must work 
outdoors for long periods in 
areas with heavy smoke or 
where ash is present, should 
wear a well-fitting N95, P100, or 
P110+organic vapor respirator 
mask. Since wearing a respirator 
can make it hard to breathe, 
individuals with lung or heart 
problems should ask their 
doctor before using one.

 You can monitor air quality 
in the Los Angeles area on the 
South Coast AQMD website.

Protect yourself from wildfire 
smoke:

- Shut windows.

- Turn off your vents to the 
outside.

- Use portable air cleaners/air 
purifiers inside.

- Reduce physical activity to 
reduce inhalation of smoky air.

- Wear a well-fitting respiratory 
mask, gloves, long-sleeved 
shirts, and long pants when 
cleaning up ash. Avoid skin 
- contact. If you do get ash 
on your skin, wash it off 
immediately. Some wet ash can 
cause chemical burns.

- Monitor children and young 
adults, and do not allow children 
to play with ash or be in an area 
where ash-covered materials are 
being disturbed.

- Clean ash off pets.

 If you experience chest pain, 
chest tightness or shortness 
of breath, seek medical care 
immediately.

Altadena 
Libraries 

Still Standing


Pasadena Senior Center 
Back Open Helps Altadena

 Altadena Library officials 
released a statement 
Thursday night that social 
media and news reports 
that the Altadena libraries 
are gone in the fire are 
incorrect. 

 “We received visual 
confirmation late this 
afternoon that our 
libraries, the Altadena 
Main Library and Bob 
Lucas Memorial branch, 
are both undamaged,” 
they said. “Please share 
this information with 
your friends and family 
so that we can keep our 
community updated.” 

 They further stated that, 
“We are devastated by the 
damage this fire has done 
to our beloved Altadena, 
and our hearts go out to 
all affected by this disaster. 
Yet we are grateful to be 
part of such a resilient 
and close-knit community 
and are committed to 
supporting Altadena in 
every way possible as we 
grieve, come together, and 
rebuild.”

 For more information 
visit: altadenalibrary.org.

 

 The Pasadena Senior Center 
announced that it re-open its 
doors Friday and today with 
classes resuming on Monday. 
The center, a crucial hub for 
the senior community, had 
been temporarily closed due to 
significant debris around the 
parking structure and center 
premises following the Eaton fire 
and consequent high-velocity 
winds staff said.

 Executive Director Akila Gibbs 
expressed her enthusiasm about 
the reopening, stating, “I am 
happy that we will be able to open 
our doors and welcome seniors 
back to the center.” The cleanup 
efforts have been significantly 
supported by Councilmember 
Justin Jones’s office, which played 
a pivotal role in mobilizing city 
resources for the task. “When 
I learned that the center was 
closed due to debris, I worked in 
coordinating with city staff from 
the Public Works Department 
and Parks, Recreation, and 
Community Services to help 
clean up,” said Councilman 
Jones.

 During the closure, the Senior 
Center staff conducted wellness 
checks on nearly 2000 members, 
provided protein drinks, and 
distributed incontinence and 
personal hygiene products by 
taking them to the convention 
center. In a gesture of community 
solidarity, Friday’s lunch will also 
welcome older adults from the 
Altadena Senior Center, which 
unfortunately has burned down. 
These individuals are invited 
to participate in the Pasadena 
Senior Center’s programs and 
services, including the lunch 
program.

 Acknowledging the ongoing 
recovery efforts, Ms. Gibbs urged 
caution amongst the senior 
community due to the lingering 
debris on streets and unhealthy 
air quality. “We urge everyone to 
be careful while walking and to 
wear face masks,” she advised.

 The center is eager to resume 
its regular schedule of classes 
and activities from Monday. 
This weekend, the center invites 
all seniors for a complimentary 
cup of coffee and to experience 
a renewed sense of community. 
“We welcome you with open 
arms,” concluded Gibbs.

 “The Pasadena Senior Center 
prioritizes efforts to improve the 
lives of older adults,” Jones said.

 For more information visit: 
pasadenaseniorcenter.org or call 
626-795-4331.


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