Units from the Long Beach Fire Department were dispatched to Glendora Thursday morning to assist with the Colby Fire, which began around 6AM and prompted more than 3,700 evacuations in the northeastern San Gabriel Valley.
According to firefighter Will Nash, a “Strike Team” unit from Long Beach arrived on the scene shortly before noon and included one Battalion Chief and five engines, for a total of 21 firefighters. An additional LBFD engine with four firefighters was teamed up with the Downey Fire Department to complete a third, mixed Strike Team.
To compensate for the lost local personnel, LBFD called in backfill firefighters to staff Long Beach fire stations.
“This ensures we maintain full staffing levels to promptly respond to emergencies within the city,” Nash said.
As of 5PM, the Colby Fire had burned through 1,700 acres and was listed as being 30% contained. Three 20-somethings were also arrested by Glendora Police Thursday for starting the early morning campfire that spread quickly because of the winds and dry conditions.
Smoke and ash from the fire caused the South Coast Air Quality Management District to issue an advisory for portions of Los Angeles County, including Long Beach, which was listed as “Moderate.” The massive grey plume could be seen across the Greater Long Beach Area as it flowed southwest from the blaze.
@LongBeachPost#lbpost View from the 605. pic.twitter.com/YVHvSxm5vf
— Billy Grenham (@BillyGrenham) January 16, 2014
Went outside to pick up my newspaper and saw this. Ashes are falling. View from Long Beach @myfoxlapic.twitter.com/hokMvrM89q
— Lisa Roque (@RoquePrincess) January 16, 2014
Here is a view from the #LongBeach area of the #ColbyFire via @GregoryYYeepic.twitter.com/zMo6zFQiyX
— Beatriz Valenzuela (@PTBeatriz) January 16, 2014
The City of Long Beach’s Health Officer, Dr. Mitchell Kushner, released a recommendation that said all individuals should take precautions when outdoors in areas where there may be visible smoke or an odor of smoke.
“Individuals with conditions such as heart disease, asthma or other respiratory disease should stay indoors as much as possible,” Kushner said.
Long Beach schools were exercising caution today, according to Long Beach Unified School District spokesperson Chris Eftychiou, who said that they “reminded schools to use good judgement when determining [outdoor] activity levels.” Schools were urged to to monitor students with asthma or other respiratory illnesses for problems.
Aerial map courtesy of NASA