Keeping the Arroyo Safe From Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, community members and experts gathered Wednesday evening at the Mayfield School auditorium to discuss fire risk mitigation in Pasadena’s Arroyo Seco. 

The meeting—presented as a collaborative effort by the Arroyo Seco Task Force of the West Pasadena Residents Association and the Martin Severance Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution—brought the community together with local officials, fire professionals, and environmental advocates to outline fire safety measures and community-based solutions.

The Arroyo, essentially a dry river bed running north and south through Pasadena and alongside the Rose Bowl, all the way to Downtown Los Angeles is itself a unique challenge in a fire, say many, due to its configuration. 

As J. Lopez, a retired Assistant Chief of the Forestry Division at the Los Angeles County Fire Department and current member of the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, noted, “The Arroyo Seco is like a wind tunnel. Should it catch fire, that could roar all the way down to El Sereno and Eagle Rock and Highland Park.” 

In addition, the streets in the hilly neighborhoods above the Arroyo are winding and narrow, and could present major traffic problems in the event of a major evacuation. 

Lopez presented a 2021 assessment which highlighted the area’s acute vulnerability due to accumulated dry brush, dead trees, and non-native vegetation. 

“This report serves as a foundation for our efforts,” said Lopez. “We provided a risk assessment and proposed solutions, including recommending that this community become Firewise-certified.” 

Lopez cited Pasadena’s existing fire mitigation strategies, such as the city’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Arroyo Seco Master Plan, but stressed enhanced vegetation management and public participation in fire prevention. 

Speakers emphasized the importance of striking a balance between ecological preservation and fire safety. While some residents expressed concerns about strict environmental regulations hindering brush clearance, others stressed the necessity of maintaining habitat integrity. Others pointed out the dangers of the unhoused population in the Arroyo lighting warming fires. 

“The master plan’s goal is to balance natural habitat values, recreation, and public safety,” said one Arroyo Seco Task Force member. “However, fire safety needs to be prioritized in areas where overgrown vegetation poses a direct risk to homes and residents.” 

In her presentation, English showed the fire risks posed by excessive fuel loads, including piles of dry brush and non-native eucalyptus trees. Experts underscored the role of embers in igniting homes, said English, noting that up to 80% of homes lost in wildfires burn due to embers rather than direct flames. 

Beth Burnam, a regional coordinator for FireWise USA, advocated for proactive home-hardening techniques. “FireWise is a grassroots, resident-driven program that educates communities on how to reduce wildfire risks,” she explained. “This is about neighbors working together to prepare for a wildfire.” 

She emphasized that simple actions—such as maintaining defensible space around homes, clearing roofs and gutters of debris, and using fire-resistant building materials—could significantly improve community resilience. 

Samuel Lopez, of the Gabriel Rontongo San Guerbo Band of Mission Indians. 

“We need to integrate Indigenous fire knowledge with Western fire science,” he stated. “Cultural burning has been practiced for centuries to maintain healthy ecosystems and reduce catastrophic fire risk.”

He urged local authorities to collaborate with Indigenous groups to explore controlled burns as a fire mitigation strategy. 

The meeting also addressed the importance of evacuation planning, especially for vulnerable populations and the 150-plus horses housed in the Arroyo Seco’s equestrian center. 

Mike Metro, retired LA County Fire Chief, highlighted the need for strategic evacuation routes and public awareness. “Residents need to take personal responsibility for knowing evacuation routes and preparing emergency kits,” he emphasized.

In a post-meeting Q&A session, some residents advocated installing clearly marked evacuation route signs throughout the community. Others called for enhanced coordination between local fire departments, emergency responders, and residents to ensure a swift response in future fire events.

Several speakers expressed frustration with bureaucratic obstacles they portrayed as hindering fire mitigation efforts.

“For years, we’ve been told that brush clearance is ‘complicated’ due to environmental restrictions,” one resident said. “But we need to ask ourselves: What’s more complicated—clearing brush now or rebuilding hundreds of homes after a devastating fire?”

M. Diane Carey-Schmitz of the Arroyo Seco Task Force urged residents to sign up for future discussions and participate in Firewise initiatives.

Community members also called for streamlined processes to remove hazardous vegetation and amend outdated ordinances that limit proactive fire prevention measures.

The meeting concluded with longtime resident and business owner Robin Salzer calling for ongoing community engagement. 

Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin, who was in the audience but did not participate in the presentation, said, following the meeting, “This was the right atmosphere and the right environment  for this discussion. There weren’t a lot of personal attacks. It was ‘How can we come together to make the community we love safer?,’ and it is going to take all of us.”