A nature center in Pasadena, California, was completely burned down on Tuesday before animals, artifacts and other valuables could be saved.
A spokesperson for the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation (LA County Parks) told Newsweek that it suffered "a complete and total loss of the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, which burned down the night of January 7" after the Eaton fire broke out.
"All staff are fine," the spokesperson noted, as "they left before the fire started." There were no staff on site at the time of the fire as the park was closed to visitors because of the Red Flag Warning issued in the area over high winds.
"While our staff worked hard to evacuate animals, due to the fast-moving firestorm Tuesday night, we were not able to activate our evacuation plan for the reptiles and valuable items at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center," the LA County Parks spokesperson said.
The fire began after park staff had left, but once staff were later alerted about it, they "went back to the park to try to evacuate the animals," the spokesperson said.
The first staff member to arrive back at the park reported that "the fire had already spread to the front entrance to the park" and "staff could not get in," the spokesperson noted.
There were 15 animals housed at the center, including snakes, lizards, beetles, toads and a tarantula. Two desert tortoises were reported to be "safe and sound" as they were "hibernating at a volunteer's house," according to the LA County Parks spokesperson.
Taxidermy specimens, art, photos and artifacts showcasing the history of Eaton Canyon, as well as the gift store and all equipment and tools at the center were lost, the spokesperson said.
The Eaton Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center spans 190 acres and the Eaton Canyon Nature Center reopened in November 1998 after it was previously destroyed by the Kinneloa fire back in October 1993.
The Eaton fire is among several wildfires that have ravaged parts of the Los Angeles County area this week. Residents have been ordered to flee their homes, with evacuation orders issued in several parts of California.
The Eaton fire began on January 7 at around 6:18 p.m. local time and has now reached 13,690 acres, with zero percent contained, according to a Thursday evening update posted on X, formerly Twitter, by the L.A. County Fire Department.
According to an incident update report from 10 a.m. local time Thursday posted on X by the fire department, there have been five civilian fatalities and four firefighter injuries, while 39,428 structures are threatened, with 972 destroyed and 82 damaged. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
"A Red Flag Warning remains in effect for the area over the fire until 6 p.m. [local time] Friday," the report said, and "northeast winds will continue over the Eaton fire through the next few days."
An evacuation point for residents impacted by the Eaton fire has been set up at the Pasadena Civic Center, with the Humane Society on site to accept small pets for boarding. The Baldwin Park Animal Care Center is available for the evacuation of small animals, while large animals are being accepted at the Industry Hills Expo Center, according to the L.A. County Fire Department.
Newsweek has contacted the L.A. County Fire Department for comment via email.
Do you have a video or story related to the California fires to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
English (US) ·