On Tuesday morning, as Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station dispatcher Richard  Engersbach and evidence and property custodian Marc Harvey were leaving the Altadena Sheriff’s Station they noticed smoke coming from a home in the 3000 block of Lake Avenue. They saw the home was engulfed in flames and immediately ran to the rear door of the home. They woke the residents up and evacuated them as fire engines arrived. The two victims were treated by LA County Fire Dept. personnel for smoke inhalation.
The loss to the home was estimated at $100,000. LA County Sheriff’s Arson and Explosives detectives investigated the incident. The preliminary cause appeared to have been faulty wiring to a lamp.

TOWN COUNCIL MEETS
TONIGHT
Chris Stone from LA County Public Works will be at tonight’s, Thursday, Aug. 19, meeting of the Crescenta Valley Town Council to discuss the work currently being done to enlarge a few of the local debris basins. Plans include placing a culvert above Upper Canyonside (Briggs Terrace) with financial assistance from the CVWD. There will be a brief question-and-answer session regarding the upcoming 2010/2011 rain season.
The meeting is held at 7 p.m. in the community room of the La Crescenta Library, 2809 Foothill Blvd.

CITY TO HOST PARK EVENTS
On Saturday, Aug. 21 from 8 a.m. to noon, the city of Glendale is hosting a Wilderness Workday at Deukmejian Wilderness Park. The workday will focus on the plants of the park and the establishment of a nursery. Restoration ecologist Melanie Keeley will spend the first two hours discussing the local flora, techniques for seed gathering and a nursery operation.
Participants should wear sturdy closed toed shoes and protective clothing. Bring water, sunscreen, gloves and a hat.
Other events include tree watering this Sunday, Aug. 22 at the Experimental Forest. On Tuesday, Aug. 24 there will be a “Full Moon Hike” in the Verdugo Mountains and on Saturday, Aug. 28 there is a “Campfire Program” at Deukmejian.
Call (818) 548-2000 for information.
Deukmejian Wilderness Park is located at 3429 Markridge Road.

BUILDING STANDARDS, FIG TREE ON CVCA AGENDA
The next meeting of the Crescenta Valley Community Association will feature a discussion on efforts to establish residential building standards (such as anti-mansionization rules) for La Crescenta, plus the latest news on the stalled office building construction at 2626 Foothill Blvd., and efforts to save the historic Morton Bay Fig tree. The meeting will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m., at the Dunsmore Park Community Room, 4700 Dunsmore Ave.