THE SIERRA MADRE EARTHQUAKE : 4 Cities That Took $30 Million in Damages Begin the Cleanup

San Gabriel Valley residents spent the days leading up to today’s holiday pulling down loose masonry, sweeping up rubble and reliving the “20 seconds of terror,” as one woman described last week’s Sierra Madre earthquake.

Damage estimates from the 5.8 temblor hit the $30-million mark this week in the four hardest-hit foothill cities: Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Monrovia and Arcadia. A 32-year-old San Dimas woman was killed in the quake when she was struck by a falling piece of metal as she watched horses work out at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia.

By midweek, foothill communities reported the following:

* In Pasadena, at least 600 structures were damaged, at a cost of between $10 million and $12 million, city officials said. Among the worst hit were Westminster Presbyterian Church on North Lake Avenue, where ornamental masonry smashed through the roof and stained-glass windows shattered, and Jacob Maarse Flowers on East Green Street, where the roof of a large refrigerator caved in under falling debris.

John Shotwell, an engineer with the state Office of Emergency Services, examined the 1927 City Hall and estimated repair costs at $1 million. “The building flexed more than it should have, and you see some of the cracks, but the building is a good building,” he said.

No further damage was reported to the historic Colorado Street bridge, which has been closed since 1989 for structural repairs, including earthquake retrofitting.

On Tuesday, the Pasadena City Council waived the city’s $40 permit fee for chimney repairs.

* In Arcadia, more than 200 buildings were damaged, at a cost of about $3 million. The Motel 6 on Colorado Place, with plumbing fixtures ripped off walls, may be beyond repair, city officials said. Of 175 damaged residences, 98% suffered chimney damage.

* In Monrovia, 52 houses were damaged, including the former home of writer Upton Sinclair on Maple Avenue, and “The Oaks,” the landmark home of Monrovia founder William Monroe, on Primrose Avenue. The estimated cost of the damage was $6.5 million.

On Tuesday, the Monrovia City Council formally declared a state of emergency and voted to urge Gov. Pete Wilson to declare the San Gabriel Valley a disaster area. Acting City Manager Jeanne Kennedy said the damage assessment includes 331 destroyed or damaged chimneys. Emergency teams on Friday responded to two earthquake-prompted heart attacks and one small brush fire caused by downed power lines, Kennedy said.

* About 150 structures in Sierra Madre’s three square miles were damaged, at an estimated cost of $8.5 million. Major damage was reported to the 1928 Sierra Madre Congregational Church. The Penny House on Lima Street--a 105-year-old former hotel where the Bob Hope movie “The Seven Little Foys” was filmed--was among seven condemned residences.

* In unincorporated areas of the county, more than 200 structures were damaged, at an estimated cost of about $500,000. Most of the damage was in Altadena, said Fire Capt. Steve Valenzuela, a staff member at the county’s Office of Emergency Management.

Building inspectors were fanning out through quake-struck neighborhoods. In Pasadena, Fire Chief Kaya Pekerol said the city’s inspectors were running about a day behind schedule because of heavy demand.

Teams from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state Office of Emergency Services were also touring affected neighborhoods to assess damage.

The American Red Cross was staffing two service centers, in Monrovia and Sierra Madre, to take damage reports and to provide emergency housing, food and counseling for families whose homes were condemned.

Crews from the California Conservation Corps were going door-to-door in Pasadena, Arcadia, Sierra Madre and Monrovia, offering help in dismantling loose masonry and damaged chimneys. Corps officials said 228 members ages 18 to 23 were mobilized for the task, for which residents will not be charged.

Free-lance writer Karen E. Klein contributed to this story.