Bear spotted lumbering through La Cañada neighborhood

At least two children in a pool in La Cañada Flintridge got the scare of a lifetime Monday afternoon when a bear lumbered over the backyard fence, sending them scurrying indoors.

Paradise Canyon Elementary School and Flintridge Prep were temporarily put on lockdown as television news footage from overhead helicopters showed the bear move from yard to yard.

The ursine was spotted about 2 p.m. near Viro Road and Crown Avenue, said Lt. Brian Fitch of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station.

California Fish and Game officials were on scene tracking the bear with the assistance of a sheriff’s helicopter, Fitch added.

[Updated 3:43 p.m.: Sheriff’s officials reported shortly after 3:30 p.m. that the bear had been tranquilized in the 300 block of Baptiste Way and that lockdown orders for nearby school had been lifted.]

-- Jason Wells and Tiffany Kelly, jason.wells@latimes.com

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