Massive Fires in Los Angeles Area Affect Armenian-American Community

By Aram Arkun,

Armenian Mirror-Spectator

WATERTOWN — Terrible fires have spread through several areas in Los Angeles County, including the wealthy coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, the Eaton fire in the San Gabriel Mountains, spreading to Pasadena and Altadena and then going towards La Cañada Flintridge and parts of Glendale – all neighborhoods with large Armenian populations, and several places in the San Fernando Valley.

The fires started Tuesday, January 7, and spread due to the strong Santa Ana winds. Over 30,000 people in the Pacific Palisades area were forced to evacuate their homes, and over 52,000 were evacuated in Pasadena, Altadena and surrounding areas. Five deaths have been reported due to the latter fire.

Over 1,500,000 people had no electricity by Wednesday afternoon, January 8, in southern California,

The federal government is sending aircraft, helicopters and other firefighting equipment.

In Altadena, the Sahag-Mesrob Armenian Christian School has burned down, according to various individual reports, as well as homes of a number of Armenians there and also in Pasadena. Medical centers and other schools have also been damaged. The Tekeyan Cultural Association Beshgeturian Center in Altadena appears to be safe for now as is the St. Gregory A. & M. Hovsepian Armenian School in Pasadena.

A number of local Armenians the Mirror-Spectator contacted had been evacuated and went to stay with relatives in safer areas, though sometimes they had to move a second and even third time to escape the spreading fires.

 

 

Pasadena Public Information Officer Lisa Derderian told the Mirror-Spectatoron Wednesday afternoon that there is still zero percent containment of the fire. Over 100 homes and structures were lost during the overnight ours. Pasasdena requested 50 strike teams (a strike team consists of five fire engines), and they have been arriving all day from several states. Some water-dropping aircraft have been arriving.

Meanwhile, she said that there were around 1,200 residents taking refuge at the Pasadena Convention Center.

She said, “This is the worst case scenario. It doesn’t get worse than this.” Derderian noted that the fires will continue to spread as long as there is wind, and it may go one for several days.

Glendale City Council member Ardashes “Ardy” Kassakhian told the Mirror-Spectator that Glendale is affected because after two years of very wet seasons with record rainfall, drought conditions dried up vegetation that were prone to fires, which the strong Santa Ana winds spread. It is too early to tell what started the fire in this area, whether arson or aging infrastructure, but fortunately for Glendale, he said at present the direction of the winds are not affecting Glendale. Evacuation of Chevy Chase and Glen Oaks Canyons, nestled between local mountains, were conducted as a precaution because it would become very difficult in conditions of fire.

A major problem is sufficient water pressure when there are fires of this size, Kassakhian added. All regional fire resources are stretched thin, with Glendale crews helping Altadena and Pasadena. The damage from the strong winds have also knocked out power around the city, along with a number of trees, he said. There were some 9,000 people still without electricity but in the last few hours it is being restored.