Mother of 3-Year-Old Arrested for Child Abduction in Arcadia
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INDEPENDENT
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burbankindependent.com
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 - august 26, 2015
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Volume 3, No. 34
1 Arrested for Arson in 200-Acre Montebello Wildfire; 1 for Attempted Arson in Arcadia Triple Digit Temps Hamper Firefighters’ Efforts
- Photo by Ted Jorgensen
- Photo by Terry Miller
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 con-
sumed 1500 acres of brush. The Cabin Fire started at 1:07 p.m. PST on Aug. 14. As of Sunday, the fire was 1,470 acres and 60% contained. Ten firefighters were evacuated with minor injuries. About 639 personnel are on scene. The location of the fire was 3 miles north Rincon-Redbox Rd. off HWY
39.
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. The fire broke out near the Rio Hondo River in Mon-
Arborist Reports Kidspace Tree Fell in Part to Increased Water Uptake
tebello 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
ing recent rains. Among the observations made by the arborist from his inspection were that the tree was 85 feet tall, it had a trunk diameter of about 42 inches and a canopy width of about 60 feet by 60 feet. He also observed that the tree fell in an easterly direction and that it did not have a root crown on its east side and west side. The tree did not have wide-spreading anchoring roots, but large girdling roots were visible within the uplifted root system. Root rot fungus was also not present. Lubeshkoff also reported that there was historic evidence of fire damage indicated from black charcoal and white ash in a cavity on the underneath
fire continued to burn over 300 acres Monday morning after erupting in a northern Los Angeles mountain community one day earlier, officials said. Several structures were set ablaze by the so-called Warm Fire, which sent masPlease see page 3
Antonovich to Run for Liu’s California Senate Seat
By staff writer Despite the massive drought, the City of Pasadena is contending with an independent, certified arborist to investigate the sudden collapse of an Italian stone pine tree in front of the Kidspace Museum in Brookside Park. Several factors most likely contributed to the tree’s failure on July 28, one of which was too much water. Arborist Ted Lubeshkoff of JTL Consultants wrote in a seven-page report that there were many possible contributing factors that may have caused the tree to fall, including absence of anchoring roots, a slight lean in the tree, recent drought conditions and heavy weight due to increased water uptake follow-
evacuated, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. A homeless man was arrested on suspicion of setting that fire, authorities said Sunday evening. Cabin Fire: Was 90% contained as of Monday morning. A fast-moving brush
By staff writer side of the tree, possibly from hot barbecue coals. Lastly, he observed the tree had a slight lean. The arborist noted an increase in water consumption by the tree probably added substantial weight to it after about .61 inches of rain occurred on July 19 and July 20, less than 10 days prior to its collapse. “The Italian stone pine probably could not release water as quickly as it was taking water in, causing a substantial increase in weight throughout the tree,” the report noted. “A lean in the tree, by itself, is not necessarily an indicator of an unstable tree. Please see page 2
- Photo by Terry Miller
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, whose district includes Pasadena, has announced his bid for the California state Senate in 2016. The 75-year-old Republican, who will be forced out from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors by
term limits next year. Antonovich has said he was eyeing the seat now held by Carol Liu (D-La Cañada), who will be termed out. Antonovich’s supervisorial district includes Pasadena, Burbank and Glendale. Democrats in the Senate district outnumber
Republicans and Liu’s seat has drawn several contenders from the Democratic Party, among them former Pasadena Police Lt. Phlunte’ Riddle, former Assemblyman Anthony Portantino from La Cañada and current Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Glendale).