Sierra Madre keeps evacuation lines, enforces curfew as crews fight nearby fire

Fire Chief Brent Bartlett told Sierra Madre City residents in a morning emergency briefing that crews continue to extinguish hot spots inside the city and that evacuation zones north of Grandview Avenue will remain unchanged while damage assessments continue.

Bartlett said firefighting teams are “working extremely hard to make sure that [hot spots] are extinguished and that they are cold” before officials can safely allow residents to return. He said the fire had progressed north and that the city is preparing for a potential second wind event as early as Monday through Tuesday.

The assessment work is ongoing. “We are also, at the same time, concurrently, conducting preliminary damage assessments,” Bartlett said, and added that crews will perform daily evaluations to reassess evacuation zones.

Police Chief Gus Barrientos announced that the city has implemented a mandatory curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in areas under evacuation orders north of Grandview Avenue. “This measure is necessary to ensure the safety of both our residents and first responders as well as to prevent any criminal activity,” Barrientos said. He said National Guard personnel have been deployed to assist local police and sheriff’s deputies in secured, evacuated areas.

City Manager Jose Reynoso said the American Red Cross is expanding resources and will provide extended shelters for people and pets at the Pomona Fairplex. He gave a Red Cross contact number of 1-800-675-5799 and said residents can apply for FEMA assistance at the federal disaster assistance website or by calling FEMA’s helpline at 1-800-621-3362.

Reynoso also warned of the potential for debris and mud flows once rains arrive and said the city’s public works staff, in coordination with Los Angeles County Public Works, will provide additional resources as they become available. He urged residents to monitor official city social media and Nixle for return instructions and other updates.

Bartlett thanked residents for following evacuation orders, said the canyon “looks excellent,” and cautioned that additional wind could make remaining hot spots more dangerous. Officials did not give a date for when residents may return; they said return timing depends on the fire suppression and damage-assessment work.

The briefing included three named city officials: Fire Chief Brent Bartlett, Police Chief Gus Barrientos and City Manager Jose Reynoso. No formal votes or ordinances were announced during the remarks.