by Mick Rhodes | editor@claremont-courier.com

Though Tuesday’s jarring windstorm left its mark on Claremont in the form of downed trees, limbs, and some property damage, the city and the surrounding communities were clearly spared the worst.

Violent wind gusts up to 90 mph drove fast-moving firestorms through several other Southern California communities, resulting in at least five deaths and more than 2,000 homes, businesses, and structures destroyed or damaged. Among those structures lost are national landmarks and regional treasures.

A burned out car on Braeburn Road in Altadena pictured Wednesday evening. Courier photo/Mick Rhodes

The Palisades Fire, which had burned more than 17,000 acres at press time and was 0% contained, is the most destructive in the history of Southern California.

The Eaton Fire in Altadena has left the idyllic foothill community in ruins, with hundreds of century-old homes reduced to smoldering rubble and nearly 12,000 acres burned, with 0% containment at press time. Braeburn Road resident Christine Moore said the stately homes directly across the street from her “exploded” in a manner of minutes early Wednesday.

Luckily for Claremonters, until Thursday afternoon, the winds have been blowing to the west. Everyone west of the 605 Freeway is breathing sickly orange air choked with ash. Schools are closed in Pasadena, Altadena, and all over the westside of LA.

More than 130,000 people remain under evacuation orders, primarily in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadena.

Clean up got underway almost immediately in Claremont Tuesday, where trees were downed on Foothill Boulevard just east of Indian Hill, on College Avenue just south of Foothill, Memorial Park, Lewis Park, in June Vail Park, and on a handful of other streets. There have been no reports of injuries.

Gas lines were still burning in dozens of destroyed homes in Altadena on Wednesday evening. Courier photo/Mick Rhodes

Fire from an open gas line continued to burn Wednesday at what was once the kitchen of this destroyed home on Braeburn Road in Altadena. Courier photo/Mick Rhodes