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 Tuesday and Wednesday, resulting in at least 11 deaths — with several people still unaccounted for — and more than 12,000 homes, businesses, and structures destroyed. 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 at noon Saturday had burned 22,660 acres and was 11% 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 14,117 acres burned. It was 15% contained at noon Saturday. 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 100,000 people remained under evacuation orders at noon Saturday, primarily in Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadena, but also in new hot spots in Encino and Brentwood.

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