To the editor: This paints an incomplete image of what occurred the evening of the hearth (“A Occasions investigation: As west Altadena burned, L.A. County fireplace vehicles stayed elsewhere,” July 23). We reside in east Altadena. From our kitchen window, we noticed the beginnings of the hearth a number of ridges away from our home. I figured we’d quickly hear the sound of fireside engines coming to place out the blaze. As a substitute, nothing. Nothing within the neighborhood and no firefighting presence on our road, which was left to burn.
The subsequent day, as we tried to get to our home, there have been fires in all places, so we needed to flip again. On the complete drive from Pasadena to Altadena, we didn’t see one fireplace truck. A few of our intrepid neighbors did handle to get to their houses regardless of the fires. They took movies of fires burning on our road. They, too, didn’t see any fireplace vehicles.
Lastly, after round two days, we have been capable of get to our neighborhood, however to not our road as a result of the hearth and police departments lastly confirmed up and have been blocking entry. Our space was all of a sudden deemed too harmful to go to. We noticed many indignant encounters between neighbors — desirous to see if their houses have been nonetheless standing — and police, barring entry to the world.
Our residence managed to outlive, though lots of the houses round ours weren’t so fortunate. By means of this horrific expertise, I’m grateful that we received an evacuation warning in time to get out safely.
Jackie Naiditch, Altadena