New Arson Patrol in La Crescenta Proves Its Worth

A newly formed citizens arson patrol in La Crescenta proved its value in the first weekend of operation by helping to avert a potentially disastrous wildfire Sunday in the rugged Angeles National Forest above Glendale.

Crescenta Valley sheriff’s officials said two members of the volunteer patrol spotted two men in a car parked in the forest off Big Tujunga Canyon Road shortly after 7 p.m. The patrol members watched as one of the occupants tossed an object into a grassy embankment before driving off.

The volunteers, David Truax and Galvin Lowe, immediately radioed for help when smoke began rising from the grass.

Fire units were able to respond and extinguish the fire while it was still small, “preventing an incident of possible disastrous consequences,” said Sgt. Ron Mills, reserves coordinator.

The volunteers gave authorities descriptions of the suspects and the license number of the vehicle. County arson officials are investigating.

The volunteer patrol was started last Friday by Crescenta Valley sheriff’s personnel because of the unusually high fire danger in the forest and the foothills, Mills said. The patrol is designed to serve as a “deterrent force to arson,” he said.

About 20 volunteers contributed 80 hours and patrolled more than 600 miles in their personal vehicles during the first weekend of operation. Officials said they hope to increase the number in the force in coming weeks. Participants use citizen’s band or ham radios to report incidents.

Mills said the Crescenta Valley team is patterned after a similar patrol launched by sheriff’s personnel in Malibu after a disastrous fire there in 1982.

The next meeting of the Crescenta Valley team will be July 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the community room of the sheriff’s station, 4554 N. Briggs Ave., La Crescenta. Volunteers who do not have radios are matched with those who do, Mills said.