Altadena Rescue, Pasadena Fire Send Teams to Calabasas Blaze as 5,000 are Evacuated

Eight Pasadena firefighters on two fire engines were sent Saturday night to help control the raging Calabasas fire that has forced at least 5,000 people to evacuate from their homes. Meanwhile, the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team was activated and worked with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department to help in the evacuation.

Pasadena Fire Department spokesperson Lisa Derderian said the Pasadena firefighters were part of a four-city strike team but were released from the scene after eight hours.

“We sent at least two engines – eight personnel – around 5:30 p.m. last night to assist with structure protection,” Derderian said on Sunday. “We were part of an area strike team with our neighboring jurisdictions.”

Derderian said Pasadena Fire Units Engine’s 31 and 36, Burbank Engine’s 11 and 12, and Glendale Engine 21 along with a Monterey Park Battalion Chief were part of the strike team and responded as Strike Team 1202-A, a five Type-1 Fire Engine Strike Team, this afternoon to the Old Fire Incident in Calabasas, as an “immediate Need” request.

After checking in with the staging officer and after eight hours, the strike team was released from this incident and returned home to their respective cities, Derderian said.

In Altadena, Sheriff Deputy Dan Paige said the Altadena Mountain Rescue was activated to join over 90 sheriff’s deputies in Calabasas for late night evacuations.

A CNN report said the Calabasas wild fire broke out Saturday afternoon and has burned about 500 acres in and around Calabasas – a relatively affluent area which is home to a handful of celebrities.

An update from the Los Angeles County Fire Department said the fire has so far affected 516 areas and is 30 percent contained. Two residences have sustained minor damage and one commercial-type building has been destroyed, the update said.