Firefighters Douse Brush Near Rose Bowl With Fire Retardant

Pasadena and Sierra Madre firefighters once again descended on the area around the Rose Bowl Friday to douse brush and vegetation with 16,000 gallons of Phos-Chek fire retardant in an effort to mitigate fire danger ahead of Independence Day weekend.

The Sierra Madre Fire Department brought its water tender truck specialized retrofitted to mix and deploy Phos-Chek fire retardant, and firefighters set to work laying a layer of the sticky substance on brush in the Arroyo and Linda Vista neighborhoods.

The annual spraying, which has become part of the July 4 tradition for decades, and is just the latest of several measures local officials have taken to stave off wildfires this summer amid continued hot, dry conditions, Pasadena Fire Department Chief Chad Augustin said.

He thanked community residents, who he said have “done a fantastic job clearing brush around their homes.”

“In the last three months, we’ve done more than 4,000 [hazardous vegetation] inspections,” the chief said. “Those Inspections have been primarily education and prevention-focused, with a focus on reducing the risk of fire in our community.”

City officials have also been working to clear brush in the Lower Arroyo, as well as teaming with Caltrans to clear away vegetation and encampments on state property, according to Augustin.

“Although this work has been extremely helpful, our hillsides, as you can see, are still covered with grass and other flammable vegetation, and we’re in a severe drought, meaning we are ripe for a disaster,” he cautioned.

“This vegetation, along with dead and dying trees from this drought, remains a huge concern for your Pasadena Fire Department,” Augustin said. “Especially during the 4th of July holiday, we must be diligent and continue to take preventive measures to protect ourselves and our community.”

Phos-Chek is primarily composed of phosphates and fertilizers, the chief said. “It is not harmful to pets or the environment.”

It’s the same substance often seen being dropped on wildfires from helicopters and airplanes, except that it lacks red or pink dye used for better visibility, and therefore is clear.

“This is a preventative measure for the 4th of July activities, as well as the summer season,” Augustin said.

Officials are not concerned about errant sparks from the professionally-run AmericaFest fireworks show at the Rose Bowl on Sunday, but rather fireworks set off illegally in the neighborhoods surrounding it by crowds gathering to glimpse the display, Sierra Madre Fire Department Fire Marshal and Captain Richard Snyder said.

Snyder has run the preventative Phos-Chek program since 1991, when the Sierra Madre Fire Department purchased a used truck from the U.S. Forest Service for $1, then set to work retrofitting to be able to mix Phos-Chek solution, he explained. It’s continued ever since.

The specialized Phos-Chek truck is believed to be the only one of its kind in the nation, and possibly the world, Snyder said. It was instrumental in helping keep flames away from hillside homes during last year’s Bobcat Fire.

Augustin reminded residents that all fireworks are illegal in the city, and a strict “zero tolerance” policy will be enforced. “We recognize there are no safe fireworks in the city of Pasadena,” he said.

“The city gas also amended the Pasadena Municipal Code to hold property owners and tenants who permit fireworks on their property responsible,” he said.

Roughly 10,000 people are injured by July 4 fireworks across the nation each year, with half of those hurt being children between five and 14 years old, Augustin added.

“Let’s protect our loved ones,” he said.