Tag: California Wildfires

GRIFFITH PARK—On Monday, January 20, at 1:02 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) and Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) responded to a call of a possible arson in the 2700 block of Glendower Avenue. Kevin Caledron was arrested on two misdemeanor charges. The suspect is reportedly being detained on a $30,000 bond after sparks from his vehicle ignited a brush fire.

At 1:33 p.m., LAFD reported that firefighters from LAFD West Bureau were able to contain the fire. LAFD reports indicate that the fire burned approximately a quarter acre on a grassy slope in a neighborhood near Griffith Park Observatory.

By Sharon

PACIFIC PALISADES—On January 7, Corpus Christi Catholic Church located at 15100 Sunset Boulevard was lost in the Pacific Palisades fire. The frame of the Church was the only part left standing. The Corpus Christi School was damaged as well.

Corpus Christi Church was built in 1950. Monsignor Liam Kidney has been the Pastor of Corpus Christi since 1999. He was evacuated from the Church with only his passport and some other paperwork. Everything else was lost. Father Kidney left the following message with a photograph of the ruins of the Church for his parishioners on his webpage.

“I have no words. Our beautiful Church in Pacific Palisades, as of this morning. Praying for my hometown, the LAFD, and everyone affected by these horrific fires.”

A letter accompanied the photograph announcing that there will be Mass this Sunday, January 12, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Monica Parish for the people of Corpus Christi. Fr. Kidney will be the celebrant.

There are three priests assigned to Corpus Christi as it is the largest catholic church in the Archdiocese. Monsignor Liam J. Kidney is the pastor. Fr. Valerian Menezes is the associate pastor, and Reegan Jayakumar is the resident priest.

The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Jose Gomez made the following statement during his homily in a special Mass for victims of the wildfires. The full text may be seen in the press release posted on the Archdiocese of Los Angeles webpage.

“In this moment, God is calling each of us to be the instruments through which he shows his love, compassion, and care to those who are suffering, We must be the ones who bring comfort to our neighbors in this time of disaster. And we must be the ones also who stand by their side and help them to rebuild and go forward with courage and faith and hope in God.”

In addition to losing the Corpus Christi parish, close to 80 Catholic schools have received damage from the fires that have devastated Southern California. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has set up a fund to offer financial support to those parishes and schools in need of rebuilding.

The Archdiocese has 288 parishes, 30 missions and chapels, 16 Eastern Rite Catholic Churches, 214 Catholic elementary schools, and 51 Catholic high schools.

The San Fernando Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has over one million Catholics.

Weekly liturgies are offered at Mass in 32 languages.

The Archdiocese has 1,049 Priests, including 502 diocesan priests, and 547 religious priests(those that belong to orders). In addition, there are 1,503 religious sisters and 82 brothers in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

“We are a city of saints. We are four million Catholics strong. We are the people of God of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.”.—LA Catholics

By Sharon

PACIFIC PALISADES—On December 16, at 4:43 p.m., Margaret Stewart reported in a Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) press release that LAFD Air Ops found two small brush fires that were approximately 30’ x 30’ areas located in the vicinity of 2200 Sullivan Road, near Murphy’s Ranch.

LAFD Air Ops initiated air drops that extinguished most of the flames while additional firemen worked on foot to gain access and cut lines around the perimeter. There was no structure damage reported.

An update was posted on the LAFD/Alert webpage at 6:53 p.m. The following information came directly from the press release.

“After water drops knocked back the fire, firefighters reached the burn area by ground. They cut lines around the perimeter and conducted mop up operations to ensure all hot spots were out. The two-hour operation is now complete.” LAFD West Bureau responded to the call.

By Sharon

MALIBU—On November 6, at approximately 9:30 a.m. a broad fire was reported in the vicinity of Malibu Canyon Road and the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). According to Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) personnel, at 11:30 a.m., the fire was 15 percent contained.

Reports indicate that a home and two other structures have burned in the fire. The wind and arid conditions have spread the fire onto some acreage nearby (close to 50 acres) requiring those in neighboring homes to shelter in place.

NBC 4 first reported that two fire helicopters responded to bringing water to the scene to help quelch the flames. There are reports of low visibility due to the dense smoke. The PCH is closed to traffic in this area.

By Sharon

BEVERLY HILLS—On Friday, September 13, during a campaign stop in Palos Ranchos Verdes, former President Donald J. Trump offered solutions to the water shortage in Beverly Hills. While speaking on the water shortage in California, the former President made the following remarks.

Trump’s solution is to stop sending millions of gallons of water into the Pacific Ocean and send it back up into the rivers to water the forest, and the farmers in Beverly Hills.

“We’re sending millions and millions of gallons of water out into the ocean to protect teeny, tiny fish called smelt, which aren’t making it anyway.

And at the same time, you’ve got wealthy people building fabulous homes in Beverly Hills and they only get 32 gallons.

And our farmers: Thousands of acres dead and barren. And these forest fires, which are much worse than Austria.” …

Trump made a campaign promise that he would be cutting off federal disaster aid completely if this plan was not implemented.

Former President Trump’s rally was in the historically blue area at El Camino Park, in Palo Alto where he was welcomed with little resistance from a handful of protesters.

The streets were lined with Trump supporters dressed patriotically, holding signs and banners that read, “Trump 2024,” “God, Guns, and Trump,” “Take America Back,” and shouting “Fight, Fight, Fight.” Moms for America and other groups were there in great numbers. There were multiple street vendors selling everything Trump.

A Trump supporter named Irma Polanco first told Mercury News, “He’s done everything the people have asked him to do. Democrats and Republicans should agree to disagree and focus on what’s good for this country.”

“He’s done everything the people have asked him to,” said Irma Polanco, 60, a resident of Fresno, adding that Democrats and Republicans should agree to disagree” and focus on “what’s good for this country. It wasn’t supposed to be like that for me. I worry about my children’s future. I worry about my grandchildren’s future. I don’t know how they’re going to afford groceries.”
On August 24, report cited on the CAGOP webpage, Republican Chairwoman, Jessica Millan Patterson stated the following.

“For the third consecutive Secretary of State report since October 2023, California Republican voter registration increased, while California Democrats and No Party Preference have lost voters by the tens of thousands.”

By Sharon