Four days after airborne pollution from wildfire smoke prompted the shutdown of its Altadena station, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Monday the facility is back in full operation.
The station narrowly escaped flames from the Eaton Fire, which came very close to the building on East Altadena Drive on the morning of Jan. 8.
The bushes around the station and the park across the street caught fire. Ash blew into the front lobby, and a California flag flew overhead and dissipated in the heat of the Eaton fire.
But after briefly relocating to the nearby Crescenta Valley Sheriff's Station, Altadena deputies soon returned to their regular station despite a strong smell of smoke and no running water.
Later Wednesday, sheriff's officials said He sent an urgent message to the patrol carsDeputies must wear masks while on the job and disinfect their uniforms before stepping inside their homes, saying Altadena air has become so toxic after days of wildfires.
The next day, the department received a letter from the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health regarding an employee complaint.
“Employees are returning to work at the station and are concerned about airborne contaminants from wildfire smoke,” the letter said.
The captain decided to temporarily close the station later that day, although deputies continued to patrol, enforcing road closures and deterring looters.
Speaking at a town hall Sunday, Sheriff Robert Luna said Cal/OSHA officials had inspected the building and expected to reopen it early this week.
By Monday afternoon, the department said it had installed air purifiers and restored running water to the main station and smaller buildings behind it.
Jan. at Eaton Canyon. 7 reopened nearly two weeks after deputies first responded to reports of the wildfire, which killed at least 17 people and flattened thousands of homes, businesses and historic buildings in unincorporated Altadena and nearby Pasadena.
As of Monday afternoon, state fire officials said the 14,000-acre fire was 87% contained.