Rancho Palos Verdes: Fire off Hawthorne Boulevard*
[Updated at 1:44 p.m.]
Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Darryl Jacobs said firefighters responded to a light brush fire in Rancho Palos Verdes about 10 a.m. A sheriff's deputy who arrived before the firefighters found a smoking electrical transformer that had fallen from a power pole that appears to have started the blaze. It erupted at Hawthorne Boulevard, between City Hall and the Salvation Army College for Officer Training at Crestmont.
Two water-dropping helicopters and two airplanes were used, and by 10:30, approximately 80 firefighters had encircled it and had begun putting it out. By 12:15 p.m., all that remained of the fire were portions that were smoldering and smoking, Jacobs said.
The fire burned 10 to 12 acres. There were no injuries.
The fire burned west, toward City Hall, but never came close to the building, said Carolynn Petru, deputy city manager. Although some students live at the college, no one was evacuated, she said.
"I'm a little chagrined we have this problem with the Edison Co., and I intend to follow it up because we've had problems with their transformers in the past," said Rancho Palos Verdes Mayor Douglas Stern.
--Jeff Gottlieb
Photo: Firefighters work to put out fire in Rancho Palos Verdes. Sent by reader Jon to Latimes.com's reader photo site, Your Scene. For more readers' fire photos go to Your Scene's November Wildfires album.
The Times is providing better coverage than any of the other websites. KTLA is fair for TV
Posted by: John | November 15, 2008 at 01:43 PM
U.S. infrastructure is generally in bad shape. This is what happens.
Posted by: Lou Thomas | November 15, 2008 at 02:17 PM
What was the cause of the fires surrounding the LA areas (Santa Clarita, Yorba Linda)? Arson or natural causes?
Posted by: Khalid | November 15, 2008 at 09:11 PM
If you have relatives or loved ones who are seniors in the area that this fire affects, please make sure that they have a safety plan in case they become impacted by the fires.
Posted by: James Smith | August 28, 2009 at 09:44 AM
Rancho Palos Verdes fire burned more than 75 acres, utilized more than 400 firefighters, and is still not out at 10 a.m. Friday. Can still hear the water-dropping helicopters.
Posted by: Barbara Ferraro | August 28, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I do hope the Edison company will be billed for the costs of this fire, just as any other negligent operator might be. It's dry out here--the utility companies need to monitor their equipment!
Posted by: Catherine Stein | August 28, 2009 at 03:25 PM
HOW DID THE FIRE GOT IN PALOS VERDES.
Posted by: EMILY MORALES | August 31, 2009 at 12:46 PM
HAS THE FIRE STOP COULD YOU STOP THE FIRE
Posted by: EMILY MORALES | August 31, 2009 at 12:47 PM