It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Old Sierra Madre City Hall gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Sierra Madre, CA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“I am a current client of this provider The owner Diane, is on top of things.”
“Thank you ABC of Pasadena for all of your help. My family is grateful for”
“Thank you ABC of Pasadena for all of your help. My family is grateful for”
“I was trying to get a lifeline alert system for my mom and was having”
“I am a current client of this provider Thank you ABC of Pasadena for all of”
“Diane Pierson was great. She guided us through a very difficult time while searching for”
“I want to personally thank Diane Pierson and Ly French with Always Best Care Senior”
“I am a current client of this provider The owner Diane, is on top of things. They have kind caring and knowledgeable staff and respond in a very timely manner. What a great service they have provided both mentally and physically for our family. Highly recommended.”
“Thank you ABC of Pasadena for all of your help. My family is grateful for your support. The quality of care is exceptional and I feel that I can rely upon ABC of Pasadena to meet all of our needs.”
“Thank you ABC of Pasadena for all of your help. My family is grateful for your support. The quality of care is exceptional and I feel that I can rely upon ABC of Pasadena to meet all of our needs.”
“I was trying to get a lifeline alert system for my mom and was having a difficult time finding a right one until I got connected with Diane. She was so professional and productive!!! Definitely a go to person if you ever need her service. Thank you so much Diane!!”
“I am a current client of this provider Thank you ABC of Pasadena for all of your help. My family is grateful for your support. The quality of care is exceptional and I feel that I can rely upon ABC of Pasadena to meet all of our needs.”
“Diane Pierson was great. She guided us through a very difficult time while searching for an assistive living with memory care facility care for my 90 year old step mother. Diane took her time, spoke with us and provided several options. We are now in the process of relocating my step mother to an excellent facility that she recommended and would not be able to do this relocation without her help.”
“I want to personally thank Diane Pierson and Ly French with Always Best Care Senior Services Pasadena for everything they did to help me find a place for my mother to reside at. They are very dedicated and supportive to all the families they help. My mother could have become homeless without Ly’s expertise, empathy, commitment and clear communication on what to do next. Always Best Care specifically matched my mother's unique circumstances, social needs, desired location and budget. Diane and Ly are very passionate about senior care and will help you and your family with the highest level of service. I will never forget this experience or their kindness. I highly recommend them to everyone! We made the best choice working with Always Best Care Senior Services Pasadena.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting West side of Sierra Vista Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Wistaria Restaurant and Bar or visit Lizzie’s Trail Inn and The Richardson House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Sierra Madre, CA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Sierra Madre, CA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Sierra Madre, CA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
LOS ANGELES — Torrential rain pelted Southern California on Thursday, causing mudslides, flooding and debris flows across the region and hampering recovery efforts from the destructive Eaton and Palisades fires.The rainstorm — the strongest of the winter ...
LOS ANGELES — Torrential rain pelted Southern California on Thursday, causing mudslides, flooding and debris flows across the region and hampering recovery efforts from the destructive Eaton and Palisades fires.
The rainstorm — the strongest of the winter — prompted evacuation orders, as officials warned of flash floods in burn-scarred areas and cautioned drivers to stay off the roads. Downtown Los Angeles broke a daily rainfall record with 2.8 inches recorded Thursday.
In Malibu, a large debris flow swept a Los Angeles firefighter in his car off Pacific Coast Highway, video showed.
“Fortunately, the member was able to exit his vehicle and reach safety with minor injuries,” department spokesperson Erik Scott said on X.
Scott added that recovery efforts for the vehicle began Friday and included “a mammoth-sized tow truck with a boom and cables.”
Pacific Coast Highway remained closed, parts of it covered with thick mud.
As the rain abated Friday morning, the National Weather Service Los Angeles said the area had seen “significant” flooding, mud and debris flow. It warned that “mud and rock slides can still happen well after the rain has ended.”
Officials were especially concerned that the water would cause damage in the charred hills of the Palisades and Eaton fire zones, where burned vegetation and loose soil could cause landslides if waterlogged.
A debris basin in Sierra Madre, near the site of the Eaton Fire, was nearly full of mud, ash and debris that had surged downslope during the storm. The basin was designed to capture material that runs off the San Gabriel Mountains.
In Altadena, where thousands of structures burned in the Eaton Fire, sandbags and absorbent filter socks lined the curbs where workers had picked through burned homes removing hazardous waste earlier this week.
The Environmental Protection Agency, which is in charge of removing toxic material from the burned areas, halted field operations Thursday, citing the weather.
Anna Drabek, a spokesperson for the agency, said the EPA would be working in the Eaton footprint on Friday, but not in the Palisades.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is in charge of debris removal, reduced its field operations Thursday. On Friday, crews were out working and “prepared to adjust operations as necessary,” said Susan Lee, a spokesperson for the corps.
“We have been working closely with the U.S. EPA and Corps of Engineers to ensure the safety of all work crews and the community,” Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinating officer Curtis Brown said in a statement Thursday. “We are committed to completing this mission as quickly and safely as possible and will continue our work as soon as conditions allow.”
Southern California has suffered numerous wildfires in recent months, with burn scars that can trigger mudslides. Highway 330 — a popular route through the San Bernardino Mountains to Big Bear Lake — was closed because of debris in the burn scar of the 2024 Line Fire.
The weather in Southern California was expected to be more benign on Friday, with a few lingering showers, mainly in the mountains. Saturday through next week and beyond is looking dry with warming temperatures, the Weather Service said.
Ben Noll contributed to this report.
Sierra Madre Playhouse wraps its captivating multi-week Lunar New Year celebration with Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning play Master Class, a gripping theatrical production inspired by the legendary masterclasses presented by iconic opera diva Maria Callas at Juilliard at the end of her career.By News DeskDirected by Tim Dang and featuring Philippine-born Broadway star Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserable, The King and I) as Maria Callas, the show ...
By News Desk
Directed by Tim Dang and featuring Philippine-born Broadway star Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserable, The King and I) as Maria Callas, the show runs for 16 performances from February 14 through March 9, 2025, at the Sierra Madre Playhouse.
Callas, in the play, commands the stage in a Juilliard masterclass where she offers cutting, humorous, and deeply insightful critiques to her eager-to-please students. While guiding her pupils – each with their own hopes and flaws – Callas reflects on her triumphs and tragedies, from her metamorphosis as a star to her volatile relationship with Aristotle Onassis. Through sharp wit and raw vulnerability, Callas reveals the personal and professional sacrifices required to pursue greatness. Her impassioned teachings and poignant reflections remind us of the profound impact that art can have on individuals and society.
In addition to Almedilla, the cast includes Korean American soprano Joanna Kim (Sophie; 1st Soprano); actress Francesca Ling (Sharon; 2nd Soprano); opera singer Kurt Kanazawa (Tony; Tenor); composer/conductor/pianist Joshua Foy (Music Director/Manny, The Accompanist); Mexican American singer/actor Ricardo Mota (Stagehand/Tony understudy); Filipina-American vocalist Mariah Rae (Sophie & Sharon understudy); Kit DeZolt (Stagehand understudy).
Tickets ($12 – $45) are on sale now. For tickets and information, call 626.355.4318 or visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org.
Tony Award-Winning Play “Master Class”February 14 - March 9, 2025LocationSierra Madre Playhouse87 West Sierra Madre BoulevardSierra Madre, CA 91024
Date/Time Date(s) - 04/02/2025
Location Pasadena Presbyterian Church
Category(ies)
At the popular Music at Noon concerts, musicians from the community and around the world present thirty-minute concerts each Wednesday at 12:10 pm.
This event brings music to many people in Pasadena and the surrounding area for free.
This week: Check the musical act here.
SIERRA MADRE, Calif. (AP) — Much of the Eastern U.S. braced for a renewed round of harsh, soggy weather on Saturday, with thunderstorms and melting snow combining to pound the Ohio and Tennessee valleys. The lower Mississippi valley was facing the threat of strong tornadoes.Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Arkansas were under flood warnings, and residents were warned by the National Weather Service to stay off roads. Parts of western Kentucky could face up to 8 inches of rain.“This may be a major, potentially ...
SIERRA MADRE, Calif. (AP) — Much of the Eastern U.S. braced for a renewed round of harsh, soggy weather on Saturday, with thunderstorms and melting snow combining to pound the Ohio and Tennessee valleys. The lower Mississippi valley was facing the threat of strong tornadoes.
Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and Arkansas were under flood warnings, and residents were warned by the National Weather Service to stay off roads. Parts of western Kentucky could face up to 8 inches of rain.
“This may be a major, potentially historic, flash flood event,” the NWS said.
Heavy snow, meanwhile, was expected to blanket much of New England and then transition to sleet, making travel nearly impossible, the NWS said.
In northern New York, heavy mixed precipitation is expected throughout the weekend. Weather forecasters said residents should expect snow, sleet and ice accumulations of six to 13 inches and wind gusts as high as 45 mph (72 kph) late Saturday and Sunday.
“Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice and strong winds. Travel could be very difficult to nearly impossible, the NWS said.
In Southern California on Friday, a mountain community near the Eaton Fire burn scar dug out of roads submerged in sludge after the strongest storm of the year swept through the area, unleashing debris flows and muddy messes in several neighborhoods recently torched by wildfires.
Dry weather returned to the region but the risk of rock and mudslides on wildfire-scarred hillsides continued Friday since dangerous slides can strike even after rain stops, particularly in scorched areas where vegetation that helps keep soil anchored has burned away.
Water, debris and boulders rushed down the mountain in the city of Sierra Madre on Thursday night, trapping at least one car in the mud and damaging several home garages with mud and debris. Bulldozers on Friday were cleaning up the mud-covered streets in the city of 10,000 people.
“It happened very quickly but it was very loud and you could even hear the ground or feel the ground shaking,” Bull Duvall, who has lived in Sierra Madre for 28 years, said of the debris flows.
Sierra Madre officials issued evacuation orders for areas affected by the Eaton Fire, warning that fire, police and public works personnel would not enter areas experiencing active mud and debris flows and anyone who remained in a home under evacuation orders would need to shelter in place until areas are deemed safe for city personnel to enter. Residents of the city also had to evacuate during the Eaton Fire, which destroyed 15 homes in the community.
In Pacific Palisades on Friday, some residents washed their mud-covered driveways and bulldozers worked to clear mud-coated roads not far from where, just weeks ago, officials moved abandoned cars after people fleeing last month’s wildfires got stuck in traffic and fled on foot.
The vehicle of a member of the Los Angeles Fire Department was pulled out of the water in Malibu after it was pushed into the ocean on Thursday. A fire department employee was able to exit with minor injuries, department spokesperson Erik Scott said.
Southern California reported 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7 centimeters) of rain in coastal areas and valleys and 3 to 6 inches (7.6 to 15.2 centimeters) across the coastal slopes on Thursday, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the weather service.
The precipitation was badly needed, as much of Southern California remains in extreme or severe drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. In neighboring Nevada, the weather service said it recorded a measurable amount of rain in Las Vegas, ending a streak of 214 days without precipitation.
A storm in the Sierra Nevada mountains dumped 6 feet (1.8 meters) of snow over 36 hours. Two ski patrol staff from Mammoth Mountain were caught in an avalanche during avalanche mitigation work Friday morning, the resort said in a Facebook post. One was extracted and was responsive, while the other was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.
Meteorologists warn that the U.S. is about to get its 10th and coldest polar vortex stretching event this season. Weather forces in the Arctic are combining to push the chilly air that usually stays near the North Pole into the U.S. and Europe. The latest projected cold outbreak should first hit the northern Rockies and northern Plains on Saturday and then stick around all next week.
In Denver, where temperatures are expected to dip as low as 14 degrees (minus 10 degrees Celsius) over the weekend, the city has extended its cold weather shelters for those living on the streets. The Denver Coliseum — an arena with some 10,000 seats — will be opened Saturday for additional space, while a free bus will loop between the shelters across the city.
In the Rocky Mountains, skiers eager for the long Presidents’ Day weekend are already facing a closure on a section of Interstate 70 due to snow as officials warn of hazardous conditions on the mountain roads over the weekend.
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Rodriguez reported from San Francisco. Associated Press journalists from across the U.S. contributed.
Citing “massive costs” responding to the Eaton fire and its aftermath, Los Angeles County, Pasadena and Sierra Madre Wednesday, March 5, filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison alleging the utility’s equipment sparked the catastrophic blaze, which destroyed more than 9,000 structures and left 17 people dead.Each lawsuit, filed se...
Citing “massive costs” responding to the Eaton fire and its aftermath, Los Angeles County, Pasadena and Sierra Madre Wednesday, March 5, filed lawsuits against Southern California Edison alleging the utility’s equipment sparked the catastrophic blaze, which destroyed more than 9,000 structures and left 17 people dead.
Each lawsuit, filed separately in L.A. County Superior Court, seeks damages for the economic toll incurred because of the fire, which broke out on Jan. 7. In addition to homes, schools, businesses and houses of worship, that toll includes damage to government buildings, “community infrastructure” such as parks as well as the costs of responding to the fire.
The lawsuits blame SCE’s equipment for triggering the deadly blaze that cut a mammoth swath of damage through the unincorporated community of Altadena as well as the two neighboring cities.
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The county’s complaint alleges that while the financial toll of fire damage, cleanup and rebuilding efforts are still being determined and could increase, “it is estimated that they will total at least hundreds of millions of dollars.”
“We are committed to seeking justice for the Altadena community and the taxpayers of Los Angeles County,” said County Counsel Dawyn R. Harrison, who added that the county will seek compensation for damage to the county’s infrastructure, parks, recreational areas and roads, as well as the costs of the huge cleanup and recovery efforts, flood and mudslide prevention, workers compensation claims, overtime for county workers and lost taxes, as well as other costs.
The lawsuits are similar, though officials noted they were filed separately because of “different circumstances and infrastructure impacted.”
Pasadena spokesperson Lisa Derderian said the lawsuits were filed on the same day to reflect a “united front,” and in advance of a key court hearing set for March 17.
“Our focus remains on the full restoration of services to Pasadena residents and businesses,” Derderian said in a statement accompanying the city’s lawsuit announcement. “By working collaboratively with neighboring jurisdictions, we can more effectively address the devastating impacts this fire has had on our communities while ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.”
According to the lawsuit, witnesses, photos and videos indicate that the fire started directly under SCE transmission lines in Eaton Canyon.
SCE informed the California Public Utilities Commission that a fault occurred on its transmission line around the time the fire started, according to the county.
The county also argues that the utility company had a chance to lessen the risk of its equipment.
But despite repeated warnings, “Edison failed to de-energize all of its electrical equipment in and around the area of the Eaton Canyon on January 7, 2025, including multiple transmission lines and other equipment in the Eaton Canyon,” the lawsuit alleges.
Attorneys point to a public filing by SCE with the California Public Utilities Commission that a fault was detected at approximately 6:11 p.m. on its Eagle-Rock-Gould transmission circuit — “at or near the same time that the Eaton Fire ignited under the base of its transmission towers in Eaton Canyon.”
The lawsuits join more than 40 others claiming that Edison’s equipment was to blame for the start of the fire.
Kathleen Dunleavy, spokesperson for Southern California Edison, said: “Our hearts are with the communities impacted by these wildfires. We are reviewing the lawsuits that were recently filed and will address them through the appropriate process.”
The utility said evidence and videos, including one from an ARCO gas station that appears to show arcing a minute or two before flames are seen below, suggest a possible link to SCE’s equipment, “which the company takes seriously.”
“While we do not yet know what caused the Eaton wildfire, SCE is exploring every possibility in its investigation, including the possibility that the utility’s equipment was involved,” said Pedro Pizarro, whose Edison International owns Rosemead-based Southern California Edison. “We have been fully engaged since the start of the fires in supporting the broader emergency response, containment, recovery and investigation efforts.”
Plaintiffs in the county lawsuit include the county itself, the Flood Control District and the Consolidated Fire Protection District.
Edison’s CEO last week said his company met the state standard for being responsibly managed – a standard he said under state legal reforms in recent years staves off massive damage claims against the company, even if its transmission lines were found to be the cause of the catastrophic Eaton fire.
Pizarro told investors in the utility company’s fourth quarter earnings call that recent reforms in state statutes balance utility accountability with the costs of wildfire recovery and customer protections.
In essence, that balance, even if investigators find that SCE’s Altadena transmission lines ignited the fire, recognizes that wildfire risk can never be zero, he said.
“If it is determined that SCE’s transmission equipment was associated with the ignition of the Eaton fire, based on the information we have reviewed this far, we are confident that SCE would make a good faith showing that it’s conduct with respect to its transmission facilities in the Eaton Canyon area, was consistent with the actions of a reasonable utility,” Pizarro said. “That is the standard for by which a utility is judged.”
That showing would be significant if the California Wildfire Fund – a state pool of billions of dollars created six years ago to keep utilities out of bankruptcy – could protect the utility.
SCE officials have acknowledged that its equipment may have sparked a small wildfire, the Hurst fire, in Los Angeles that broke out the same day as the Eaton and Palisades fires exploded in the L.A. area, ultimately leaving 29 people and destroying thousands of homes.
By early February, in a court filing, the utility said it was looking into whether an idle transmission line became energized and possibly sparked the Eaton blaze.
But it maintained there was no evidence that its equipment was responsible for starting that blaze.
For weeks, SCE officials have said the company was reviewing a video that purports to show “flashes” of electrical arcing from a tower near where the blaze began. The utility said earlier in February that preliminary investigation found no evidence that arcing occurred, while acknowledging that some damage was found on related equipment.
In Thursday’s call, Pizarro said the investigation “continues and is complex.”
“SCE is examining the available evidence to help determine potential causes of ignition, including the possibility of being linked to SEC’s equipment,” he said. “Engineers, photogrammetrist, meteorologists and other experts are reviewing images, videos and other information as part of this review.”
Staff writer Tony Saavedra contributed to this article.
The strongest storm of the season is moving out of Southern California on Friday.The heaviest rain slammed into the region Thursday night into early Friday morning, triggering flash floods and mudslides across Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, as well as the Inland Empire.Friday will have scattered showers as the rain moves out of the area, leaving residents to...
The strongest storm of the season is moving out of Southern California on Friday.
The heaviest rain slammed into the region Thursday night into early Friday morning, triggering flash floods and mudslides across Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, as well as the Inland Empire.
Friday will have scattered showers as the rain moves out of the area, leaving residents to clean up after the storm.
Here's how the news is developing.
Feb 13, 2025, 5:40 AM
Evacuation warnings have been issued for burn scar areas in the Los Angeles area ahead of what's likely to be the biggest storm of the season.
The Los Angeles Fire Department announced that evacuation warnings will take effect at 7 a.m. Thursday through at least 2 p.m. Friday. LAFD has provided a map of the areas affected.
Feb 14, 2025, 4:47 PM PST
Two people were trapped, one seriously injured in an avalanche at Mammoth Mountain Friday morning during mitigation work following the powerful snowstorm.
The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. on Lincoln Mountain. According to Mammoth Mountain officials, two patrol staff members were caught in the avalanche.
One person was reported to be responsive when extracted from the scene, while the other was transported to Mammoth Hospital with serious injuries.
The area was closed to the public at the time the incident unfolded.
The entire mountain and lift operations were closed at 12:00 p.m. Friday and are expected to resume Saturday.
The region got approximately six feet of snow in the last 36 hours.
No further information was immediately available.
Feb 14, 2025, 1:57 PM PST
An Altadena woman who lost her home in the Eaton Fire described the double heartbreak following the devastating fire and now the mudslides.
"We're trying to get a little hope," she started to say, before her voice broke with emotion.
She was near Mendocino Street and Tanoble Drive Friday morning, where walls of mud cleared by emergency crews were piled high along the streets in her neighborhood.
She said she lost her home in the Eaton Fire, but she and her family continue to drive by their property every day.
"We keep coming back everyday to just get a sense of 'we still have a home' when we really don't," she told Eyewitness News. "But it feels like you've abandoned your child, almost, so we just come back to our house."
She drove by her property on Thursday and witnessed the downpours, so she came back on Friday to survey the damage.
She said she plans on rebuilding.
"We want to come back. We want to be able to walk these streets and enjoy the sunshine, our palm trees and our neighbors, which we love," she said.
Feb 14, 2025, 1:17 PM PST
Sierra Madre resident Rob Salinas, who lives right near the mountain, witnessed the torrential downpours and the resulting debris flow with a bird's eye view.
Salinas saw the debris basin below his home started to overflow and said it filled with about 18 feet of debris in about 15 minutes.
His camera was rolling as he saw a Jacuzzi being carried away by rushing rain water. "There goes the Jacuzzi," he says in the recording.
"We were watching it, and we saw a wall of water come down, and a little bit more, and then a little bit more, and then it started to rain really hard. I've never seen that. We've lived here for 37 years and we've seen a lot of water come down that canyon, but nothing like that," Salinas said.
Feb 14, 2025, 12:58 PM PST
Northern California is also feeling the impact of the storm. In Butte County, firefighters saved two dogs trapped in the middle of a river.
Cal Fire shared a video of the moment a crew used an inflatable dinghy to rescue the dogs on Feather River.
The dogs were found trapped on an island, clinging to tree branches sticking out of the water.
The dogs were cooperative as firefighters lifted them from the current and into the dinghy.
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