Early season wildfire forces 1,000 from homes:An early season wildfire slowly chewed its way through dense brush near Los Angeles on Sunday, forcing more than 1,000 people from homes in the foothills. More than 400 firefighters attacked the 350-acre fire, aided by two helicopters and waterdropping air tankers, said Elisa Weaver of the Arcadia Fire Department. Residents evacuated at least 550 homes Saturday night and Sunday, but none had burned. Associated Press

www.noahswish.info/CurrentRecentDisasters/
Weather conditions in Southern California have improved and most of the evacuation orders have been lifted. Noah's Wish will no longer be monitoring this event. Noah's Wish is putting Region 5 volunteers on alert due to the fire situation, we are not asking for availability at this time.

www.sierramadrenews.net/
Evacuation restrictions are scheduled to be lifted as of 12noon on Tuesday, April 29. At this time people with proof of residency will be allowed back into the evacuation areas. Road blocks are scheduled to be removed as of 6:00 am on Wednesday, April 30. Acres burned have increased to 583 acres.

From the City of Sierra Madre: There are 1055 firefighters working on the Santa Anita Fire. 150 homes are still evacuated. The fire is 57% contained, expecting full containment May 2. Fire currently concentrated in the north.

Amanda St John, Founder, MuttShack Animal Rescue: amanda@muttshack.org
15981 Yarnell St. #188, Sylmar CA 91342 730 Orleans Ave, 2nd Floor, New Orleans, LA 70116 www.myspace.com/muttshack • www.muttshack.org

The Santa Anita fire began on Saturday, April 26 in the afternoon and has currently burned under 400 acres of wild land urban interface... Approximately 1000 people have been evacuated from Oak Crest Drive across Carter Avenue to East Mira Monte Avenue, continuing down Mountain Trail Avenue, across Grandview Avenue to Santa Anita Avenue.

4/27/08, Four Dogs and Wedding Party Evacuated by Helicopter from Advancing Sierra Madre Fire: A wedding party for Ken and Julie Grady consisting of 45 people and four pets were asked to shelter in place at Sturtevant Camp; the party was safely evacuated Sunday morning. The dogs were placed on the helicopter along with their humans.

The party had driven up Saturday night to camp and celebrate the nuptials. Sierra Madre Search and Rescue led the evacuation operation coordinating with LA County Sheriffs. It took five helicopter trips to take the party back to their cars at the Chantry Flats Ranger Station where Los Angeles County Sheriffs escorted everyone back down the mountain safely.

Evacuees who came to the Red Cross shelter with pets were ably assisted by Pasadena Humane Society, www.phsspca.org, the lead animal rescue agency for Sierra Madre. MuttShack Animal Rescue visited the Red Cross shelters and spoke with several evacuees who had pets.

Some evacuees did not want to send their pets to the Pasadena shelter and chose to stay in their vehicles overnight. Caroline Ingles and her 4-year-old golden retriever Jay relaxed on a blanket under big shade trees. Mark Crawford hoped to sleep in his car with his little black lab Glory, named after the Fourth of July. Shannon M., a disaster veteran (who lost two homes in the Ninth ward during Katrina) and "Rumbero" a little "Blonde Havanese" said her cats were safe with friends, and that the only complaint Rumbrero had was that he did not like the orange chicken the Red Cross served. Did we have steak?

American Red Cross shelter: 626-799-0841
Hart Park House; 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd
American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Hart Park House and at Congressional Church. MuttShack met with Shelter IC Cesar Aviles and John and Mary Valencia who had been working since dawn to set up the shelter. They were very helpful to people who had pets. Leashes, dog food, cat food, crates and bowls were on hand at the entrance to the shelter.

The Pasadena Humane Society is offering shelter for pets whose owners have been evacuated from their homes due to the ongoing fire in the foothills.

The organization has cleared out its board room and other spaces to make room for the animals, which number about 30 at this point, Pasadena Humane Society spokeswoman Ricky Whitman said. The pets were picked up beginning at 2:30 a.m. Sunday from American Red Cross shelters in Sierra Madre.

For more information, contact officials at the Red Cross shelters at Hart Park House, 222 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., and the Congregational Church 170 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Red Cross officials will coordinate with the Humane Society to ensure pet owners find shelter for their animals.

The Humane Society has over 200 volunteers standing by. They're at the society's offices at 361 S. Raymond Ave. coincidentally for a volunteer appreciation day. www2.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_9075393