Garfield Heights | Pasadena, California
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Fire-related Disaster Prep for Home and Garden

  • "Weathered: Inside the LA Firestorm" - PBS SoCal aired 3/19/25 (60 mins)  An investigation into what caused the 2025 LA wildfires and how we can prevent/mitigate the damage from future urban fire disasters. Interviews with fire researchers and scientists on urban firestorms, aka "conflagrations." Watch at 40 minutes for homeowner recommendations on how to best prepare your home and property from flying embers like those that rapidly spread the Eaton fire through neighborhoods in Altadena.
  • "Wildfire Lessons: What to do now to protect your home and garden" - Sunset Magazine April-May 2025. Provides excellent tips for preparing your property and landscaping.
  • "5 Wildfire Safety Tips to Protect Your Garden" -Sunset magazine April-May 2025. A few easy steps can save not just your garden but your home as well. An exhibit at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden can show you how.
  • ​​www.firewise.org This site, sponsored by the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Program, offers a free book (you pay shipping) called Firewise Communities: Where We Live, How We Live; it includes photographs of fire-safe landscapes.
  • www.laspilitas.com Las Pilitas Nursery provides fire-safe guidelines and a list of fire-resistant plants.
  • www.lafd.org/brush On the Los Angeles Fire Department’s website, you’ll find a fire-safety checklist.
  • San Luis Obispo Fire Safe Display Garden  The Fire Safe Garden, situated on a 1-acre hillside, provides a working model of landscape design principles aimed specifically at protecting property from wildfire.

Helpful Fire Resources as of 2/3/2025:
CalTech's Science Exchange

Resources for Recovery and Clean-up
  • LA County Public Health Virtual Town Hall on Air Quality, Soil, Water, and Safe Cleanup After Wildfires (January 31, 2025)
  • How to mitigate post-fire smoke impacts in your home (UC Boulder/CIRES)
  • "The Fires: Air Quality, Public Health & What to Do Next" webinar hosted by the Coalition for Clean Air
  • City of Pasadena Debris removal program
  • My house didn't burn but ash from the L.A. fires fell in my yard. Can I eat from my garden? Is my soil safe? - Los Angeles Times
  • Interested in allowing researchers to perform ash/soil testing on your property near the Eaton Fire? Fill out this Google Form.
Coverage related to 2025 LA fires
  • Paul Wennberg discusses air quality after the 2025 California fires - Caltech Science Exchange
    Includes scientific papers analyzing data from previous fires and the science behind indoor air cleaners.
  • Caltech Aerosol Monitoring Site Collects Data in Aftermath of Urban Firestorm
  • The Science of Post-Wildfire Debris Flows - Watson Lecture with Michael Lamb
Air quality Resources
  • ASCENT Network real-time air quality data
  • AQMD's AQI map
    • Today's forecast
    • Tomorrow's forecast
  • Fire AirNow
  • Purple Air (local, crowd-sourced reports)
  • How to build your own air filter: https://cleanaircrew.org/box-fan-filters/
    • Apply for a grant to receive supplies: https://www.cleanairk12.com/
Cell Phone Apps for Emergencies

Alert LA County mobile app
​
Alert LA County offers a free and convenient mobile smartphone application. Download this free app onto your smartphone so that you are equipped to receive emergency alerts and instructions from authorities if you are in an area within Los Angeles County that is being impacted by an emergency or disaster. You will also get free National Weather Service alerts and warnings on your cell phone. Download the Alert LA County app on your smartphone today! Click on either of the links below to download: 
Register for  L.A. County's emergency notifications:  AlertLA
Apple iPhone users:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alert-la-county/id1411575154?mt=8
Android users:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lacounty.alert
​

​
MyShake app
The MyShake is a comprehensive and free earthquake app. Receive timely, potentially life-saving early warning alerts in California, Oregon and Washington. MyShake uses the USGS ShakeAlertTM system to deliver alerts for earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 (or greater) several seconds before shaking arrives by receiving notifications on your phone. Participate in a smartphone-based global seismic network. Your phone becomes a mini-seismometer and contributes to the detection of earthquakes wherever you are. 

Watch Duty app 
Real-time wildfire maps, alerts, evacuation orders, shelters, air quality, and wind direction information and notifications.

Genasys Protect app
Download this app 
to make sure you know if/when to evacuate safely! If you have friends and family in the area, follow multiple locations, get notifications, and keep people informed of danger.
City of Pasadena

​
Pasadena Local Alert Emergency System (PLEAS) – Register HERE

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City of Pasadena website:
https://www.cityofpasadena.net/

Pasadena Water and Power:

https://pwp.cityofpasadena.net/news/

City Council District 3:

Council Member Justin Jones - [email protected]
Liaison Lisa Barrios – [email protected]
Phone: (626) 744-4738
Join the Mailing list
L.A. County Emergency Guide (English version) -downloadable pdf:
lacountysurvival_2019_english.pdf
File Size: 5164 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

L.A. County Emergency Guide is available in several different languages and an audio version
L.A. County Emergency Planning Guide for Persons with Disabilities, Seniors, and Others with Access and Functional Needs (AFN)
State Resources

Cal Fire:

https://www.fire.ca.gov/​
Federal Emergency Resources
https://www.ready.gov/
Build A Kit: Emergency Supply List
Air Quality:
https://www.airnow.gov
EPA AIRNow app and Air Quality - AirCare app
Garfield Heights Neighborhood Resources:
L.A. County 5-Step Neighborhood Action Plan
​
Download the 5-Step Neighborhood Action kit, forms, and facilitator guide below:
5-Step Action Kit.pdf
File Size: 6867 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

5-Step Action Kit Forms.pdf
File Size: 10719 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

5_step_facilitator_guide.pdf
File Size: 12022 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Garfield Heights Tips of the Month Click here.
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Watch the 9/25/22 Dis Prep General meeting: 

Watch the May 2021 General Meeting about the Neighborhood Disaster Action Plan, with Jeanne O'Donnell, Senior Program Manager of LA County Emergency Operations:

Map Your Neighborhood: "The Plan in Action"
This 10-minute video covers home and neighborhood preparedness  when disaster strikes. 
  • Home
  • About GHNA
    • GHNA Store
    • Newsletters
    • GHNA Filming Policy
  • Landmark District
    • Early History
    • Guidelines for Historic Preservation
  • Events
    • 2025 Block Party >
      • Block Party Photo Gallery
    • Spring Social
    • Historic Bus Tour
    • Ms. Dixon's 100th Birthday!
    • 2021 Virtual Home Tour >
      • Home Tour Photo Gallery
  • Neighborhood Support
  • Disaster Prep
    • Disaster Prep Resources
    • Tip of the Month
    • Disaster Prep for Pets
  • City Resources