Got lunch today from La Noria, formerly Los Victors, a Mexican food stand at the corner of Foothill and May. I got two mini chicken tacos for 99 cents each. They came with a pepper (very hot) and some nice crisp chips. Good tacos and very good price. 
"Overnight, the Bobcat Fire continues to grow, moving in a northeasterly direction but is also slowly burning towards the west. As the foothill area above Monrovia has not seen a fire in over 60 years, residents will notice that at certain times the fire will be more visible, especially when brush catches fire for the first time in 60 years or more. The fire will continue to be visible from the City with plumes of smoke during the day. Firefighting crews have spent considerable time building defensive lines on the western and southern edges of the fire. Now, efforts are being focused on the east and northeastern edges of the fire. The goal is to keep the fire from jumping Highway 39.
"Please note...the fire is burning at a high elevation, with fuels that historically have not burned, and is surrounded by defensible space, dozer lines, and even recently burned areas from fires in the past 3-4 years. The area will likely burn for several weeks until it is fully extinguished by crews."
- Brad Haugaard
Great photos courtesy of Sam Kurutz.
City Manager Dylan Feik reports that "two air tankers were able to make several drops of fire retardant (which we call "Phos-Chek" and is pronounced "fozz-check") on the southwest portion of the fire, which is right above Monrovia, to reinforce and strengthen previously applied fire lines. Additionally, several more resources arrived at the fire late in the day, including a sky crane helicopter and two more hotshot crews."
"Overnight, fire personnel will continue to monitor the fire's behavior and growth. One important term I learned today is that we have planned for a wind-driven fire, but we are observing a terrain-driven fire. For example, last night, the Santa Ana winds were forecast to push the fire southwest toward Monrovia. The fire moved east and northeast. As we wrap up the Red Flag Warning which ended at 8:00 p.m. this evening, winds are forecast to begin blowing northward which is a positive for us."
- Brad Haugaard
Many thanks to Shane Nichols for sharing these photographs of a jet dropping red fire retardant along a firebreak in the mountains above Monrovia. The plane is flying downhill.
Planes are now dumping fire retardant on the south face of the Bobcat Fire. I have observed propeller and jet aircraft, and an LA County Fire helicopter. 
Throughout the night, the fire slowly burned on Rankin Peak. It moved south a bit but also east and north from the foothill communities of Monrovia, Arcadia and Duarte. The San Gabriel region continues to be on high alert for Santa Ana winds since noon yesterday and the red flag warning will continue to 8 p.m. tonight. By late tonight, the weather forecast is that wind will push north in our favor. That is a good thing.
We want to remind everyone that fire can spread quickly and residents should be cognizant that the fire will continue to burn throughout the day and large plumes of smoke will be visible from across the region.
If conditions are good, flyovers will occur regularly to assess the situation. Fixed wing aircraft will engage the fire and perform fire extinguishing procedures including laying down fire retardant.
- Brad Haugaard
I understand that large swaths of brush above Monrovia haven't burned since 1957. That's an awful lot of dry brush, and if it doesn't burn now it'll burn later, and more intensely because there'll be even more of it. I understand that if it burns too hot it destroys the plants and their seeds.
What could we do about that? Well, there are controlled burns, but I'm sure they are very expensive and there is always the possibility they will get out of control and we could cause the disaster we want to prevent.
Here's another idea. I was talking with City Historian Steve Baker about the fire and he mentioned that long ago goats were used to control the underbrush. Add goats, they eat underbrush, and the amount of fuel is reduced. Then round up the fat goats and send them off elsewhere.
He said this was stopped for environmental reasons, but I imagine things have changed since then and perhaps now the environmental concerns can be more effectively addressed.
I'm no expert on goats and underbrush and fires but it seems goats should at least be considered. And if not goats then something else, because the more the brush builds up the bigger a disaster it could be in the future.
- Brad Haugaard
- Brad Haugaard
"Lastly, the Monrovia Community Center will continue to be an Information Center, taking calls overnight for residents seeking information. Residents can contact the Monrovia Community Center at 256-8246, anytime."
- Brad Haugaard
Monrovia School District will celebrate the grand re-opening of the Monrovia High Weight Room with an open house on Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 2 to 7 p.m. in the newly renovated Weight Room.
The idea to renovate the Weight Room came from Monrovia High Football Coach Christian Williams, and Monrovia City Council Member Larry Spicer, a Monrovia High School Class of 1973 alum, raised more than $24,000 to support the renovation.
School Board President Rob Hammond said, "Mr. Spicer is an outstanding community leader who is been very supportive of our schools. He specifically enjoys supporting Wildcat athletics."
Other contributors include Athens Disposal, Baja Ranch Market, Bowden Construction, Darrell Brooke Law Firm, Gary Schaeffler, Mountjoy Construction, Gina Willard, Larry Spicer, Marvin Holmes, Paul Kalemkiarian (Wine of the Month Club), Sierra Auto Cars, and Mr. & Mrs. Victor Hoskins.
Source: https://is.gd/w0umRi
- Brad Haugaard
The adoption fee for cats is $90. All cat adoptions include spay or neuter, microchip, and age-appropriate vaccines.
New adopters will receive a complimentary health-and-wellness exam from VCA Animal Hospitals, as well as a goody bag filled with information about how to care for your pet.
View photos of adoptable pets at pasadenahumane.org and fill out an online adoption application. Adoptions are by appointment only.
Pets may not be available for adoption and cannot be held for potential adopters by phone calls or email.
- Brad Haugaard
Air quality, according to BreezoMeter. That Monrovia has good air quality indicates the wind must be away from us and toward the fire. The purple-red indicates super bad air quality. Not surprisingly, that’s where the fire is. 
(Photo from yesterday)
A notice from City Manager Dylan Feik:
The Unified Incident Command Team, including the Monrovia Fire Department, United States Forest Service and the Los Angeles County Fire Department, are directing Monrovia residents in the foothill area below the Bobcat Fire to be prepared to evacuate. There continues to be rapid fire growth. Be advised-- this is an Evacuation Warning which means there is potential threat to life and / or property.
When Incident Command decides to issue an Evacuation Order, residents must leave.
Please make those arrangements or plans to evacuate now in case an Evacuation Order is issued. Delaying planning arrangements may prevent fire crews from suppression activities and compromise the safety of the public and first responders.
If an Evacuation Order is issued, the City will assist by coordinating the evacuation in two phases. View the evacuation map.
The First Phase will be all residents residing north of Hillcrest Blvd. and north of Greystone Ave.
The Second Phase will be all residents residing between Hillcrest Blvd. and Greystone Ave., south to Foothill Blvd.
Residents will be notified of the evacuation order by the emergency alert system. Additionally, the Monrovia Police Department and supporting agencies will be notifying residents in the affected neighborhoods ordered to evacuate. The City will continue to provide updated information on the City’s website at www.cityofmonrovia.org/BobcatFire.
Beginning Tuesday morning, September 8, 2020 at 7 a.m., the City will open the Community Center as an “Information and Cooling Center” where up-to-date information can be found. The number of the Community Center is 626-256-8246.
Residents should make evacuation plans now, including overnight accommodations. Evacuation sites for those displaced are being prepared-- more information will follow should an Evacuation Order be issued.
Those with large animals, horses and cattle, should begin to move those animals now. Do not wait until the Evacuation Order to begin moving them out of the area. Accommodations are being made for animals at the Pomona Fairgrounds and Santa Anita Racetrack (limited capacity). To find out more information regarding the evacuation centers, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767).
Those residents who need more time to evacuate, please make arrangements or plans to evacuate now in case an Evacuation Order is issued.
As a reminder, residents following Ready, Set, Go! should have evacuation plans in place, organized their emergency evacuation supplies, and have essential evacuation personal belongings easily accessible. Vehicles should be fully fueled, facing out in their driveways and ready to Go! Visit Ready Set Go!
- Brad Haugaard
