Full Notification

As of Saturday morning, the fire was 6% contained, marking some progress for firefighters who have been on the lines for days. Sierra Madre firefighters are actively engaged in laying phos-chek in areas around Sierra Madre in an effort to protect Sierra Madre from harm.   You will also see air support craft continue to get water from Sierra Madre’s settling basins behind Sierra Vista Park.  This is a coordinated effort between Sierra Madre, Los Angeles County, and Angeles National Forest Service.
Most of the fire continues to burn in areas that are in terrain that is inaccessible.  However, the fire has moved in some places to become easier for fire crews to fight the fire.  The fire has begun to move towards Sierra Madre and flames are now visible in some areas near Sierra Madre.  As the evening goes on, flames will be more visible as it continues to slowly burn in a north-west direction.  The good news is that there are no wind events predicted for the next few days and that will alleviate any immediate threat to Sierra Madre.  As of 5:00 pm today, they have begun water drops to slow the progress of the fire.  It is important to note that this fire is not driven by wind, instead, it is driven by the rough terrain that makes it inaccessible in many places.
Sierra Madre, along with the foothill cities of Monrovia, Arcadia, Bradbury, Duarte, Pasadena, and Altadena remain under an evacuation warning.  What this means is that residents should evacuate and be READY to evacuate.
Air quality has continued to decline across the San Gabriel Valley. Smoke advisories will remain in effect throughout the day and likely through the weekend.
Here are tips for managing during times of poor air quality:

• Stay indoors, if possible.
• Keep windows and doors closed.
• Check local public health alerts and the Southern California air quality map.
• Take extra precautions to protect people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), the elderly and children, as they may be more likely to experience poor health if they breathe wildfire smoke.
• Avoid vigorous physical activity.
• Run your air conditioner if you have one. Make sure it has a clean filter and that it is recirculating the indoor air to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.

• Avoid using a whole-house fan or swamp cooler with an outside air intake.
• Avoid using indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces and candles.
• Do not rely on “dust masks” for protection. Paper masks can block large particles such as sawdust but do not protect lungs from the small particles or gases in wildfire smoke. Disposable respirators such as N-95 or P-100 respirators can offer some protection if they are worn properly and have a tight fit.