January 2025 Windstorm Update

 

 

The Rancho Cucamonga Fire District is fully staffed and prepositioned throughout the city to respond to any possible incidents.

As part of mutual aid contracts, local, state, and federal resources including CAL Fire and US Forest Service will respond at the time of dispatch for any vegetation fire response in our high-hazard areas to support RCFD. 

The current Santa Ana winds are expected to peak Tuesday, with conditions lasting into Wednesday. Due to the extremely dry conditions and Santa Ana winds, critical fire weather conditions will persist through mid-week. 

The City of Rancho Cucamonga and the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District urge all residents to stay vigilant during the current Red Flag Warning.

How You Can Help:

• Clear debris, dead vegetation, and flammable materials at least 30 feet from your home. 
• Do not use power tools, mow dry grass, or operate outdoor equipment that can create sparks.
• Report fires or suspicious activity - Call 9-1-1 immediately to report fires or emergencies.
• Report suspicious activity to the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department's non-emergency line at 1-909-941-1488.
• Have an emergency kit ready and a family emergency plan in place.
• Stay informed through trusted sources like the City of Rancho Cucamonga's website and official social media channels.

Your vigilance can make a significant difference in protecting our community. Thank you for doing your part to keep Rancho Cucamonga safe.

Mutual Aid Update: RCFD has two units as part of two strike teams supporting the #EatonFire efforts. 5 members of RCFD are assisting the #PalisadesFire as part of Rescue Task Force 6.

Due to increased fire danger, the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District will be implementing a closure of Snowdrop/Santina Street. The closure is being implemented under the authority of the Fire Chief pursuant to Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District Ordinance FD-058 to provide for public safety and prevent the ignition of a wildfire due to dangerous fire conditions and past use of illegal fireworks in the area by non-residents. The closure is effective from 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 14, 2025, through 6:00 a.m. Thursday, January 16, 2025. A violation of this closure is punishable by a fine of $1,000. Residents who reside on Snowdrop/Santina Street, property owners, and their guests are exempt from the closure. For closure order click HERE

For more information, please contact the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District at 1-909-477-2770 or email RCFire@cityofrc.us.

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Thursday, January 9, 2025, 4:45 p.m.

This will be the final official EOC operational update unless conditions significantly change. With the windstorm subsiding, the City of Rancho Cucamonga has deactivated its Emergency Operation Center. We thank the community for preparing and being so resilient. Thank you to our public safety and public works crews for their dedication to keeping our #RCcommUNITY safe. 

The Rancho Cucamonga Fire District continues to have additional personnel prepositioned throughout the city to respond to any active incidents that may occur. To date, the City’s Public Works crews received over 450 calls and remain hard at work clearing downed trees and addressing other damages. Work is being prioritized based on life-safety concerns and we appreciate your patience and cooperation. 

SCE has shared that due to the dangerous conditions in the region, it may take longer than usual for SCE to restore power, and customers should be prepared for extended and potentially intermittent outages. Some of the outages from this week’s extreme weather could extend through the weekend and into early next week. For equipment that is damaged by fire or where access is restricted, restoration times could be substantially longer. Ongoing fire and wind conditions may result in some customers whose power is restored to experience a subsequent power shutoff. 

Customers whose power has not been impacted during the current wildfires and windstorm are advised to prepare in case weather conditions change unexpectedly. Please visit SCE.com for updated information about outages. Customers may report outages at 1-800-611-1911 and online. A typical Santa Ana wind pattern is expected to persist into early next week. For non-emergency wind-related damage, please report issues through RC2GO at RC2GO at www.cityofrc.us/RC2GO. In case of downed power lines or emergencies, call 9-1-1. 

The City’s Windstorm Resource Center hours have been extended to 10:00 p.m. tonight (Thursday) and will reopen at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, January 10 at Central Park (11200 Base Line Road). This facility continues to serve as a location to assist those affected by the power outages. To enter the facility, please use the Community Center entrance near Base Line Road. 

Available services include: 

• Device Charging
• Wi-Fi access
• Small animals are welcome but must be in a crate or carrier (a limited number of carriers are available). Temporary pet boarding is also available at the Animal Center, for information call 1-909-466-7387

Please note, food and refreshments are not provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. Food must be consumed upon arrival as storage is unavailable. 

Stay connected for updates by following the City of Rancho Cucamonga Fire District on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), and Nextdoor.  

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In response to the active power outages, Central Park (11200 Base Line Road) has been designated as a Windstorm Resource Center, for those affected. 

To enter the facility please use the Community Center entrance, near Base Line Road. Hours of operation will be from Wednesday, January 8, 4:30 p.m. - Thursday, January 9, 12:00 p.m. 

• Charge your devices 
• Wi-Fi Available 
• Small animals are welcome, but must be in a crate or carrier (a limited number of carriers are available). Temporary pet boarding is also available at the Animal Center, for information call 1-909-466-7387

Please note, food and refreshments will not be provided, however you are welcome to bring your own. Food must be consumed upon arrival as we are unable to store it. 

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Power Outages Update - Wednesday, January 8, 2025 as of 12:30 p.m.

Both Southern California Edison power repair outages and Public Safety Power Shutoff outages are affecting Rancho Cucamonga. The time it takes to restore power after an outage may vary, depending on the extent of damage. But be assured that SCE crews are on the job, and when power is restored their Outage Map will reflect it. 

Current Outage Area: East of Opal Street, East of Vineyard Ave, all of Heritage Community Park and Beryl Park, Hellman Ave. north of Banyan St., Buckthorn Ave., Camelia Ct., Derby Farms Dr., and Thatcher Pl., Strang Ln. and Carnelian St., Bella Vista Dr. south of Almond St. Please note that this list may not reflect all outages. 

Register at sce.com/outagealerts to receive text outage alerts. You may also choose to be notified by email or automated phone call. Stay informed by visiting SCE’s online Outage Center at sce.com/outage. Public Safety Power Shutoff information is available at www.SCE.com/PSPS.  At this time, 2,846 properties affected.

This information is continuously being updated by SCE and constantly changing.  

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Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 8:45 a.m.

Severe Wind Event Update 

Throughout the night, Public Works crews addressed urgent tree-related issues. At sunrise, Fire District and Public Works personnel began assessing damage across the city. 

The storm caused significant damage, including downed trees, damaged fencing, and damage to the Armed Forces Banners. While some power has been restored, certain areas remain under an SCE Public Safety Power Shutoff. Staff are diligently assessing damage and prioritizing life-safety concerns.

Chaffey College, Alta Loma School District, Etiwanda School District, Central School District, Alta Loma High School, Etiwanda High School, Los Osos High School, and Rancho Cucamonga High School are closed today. Cucamonga School District remains open, this could change. Schools will send messages out to families. 

To report non-emergency wind-related damage, use RC2GO at www.cityofrc.us/RC2GO. For downed power lines, call 9-1-1. Please refrain from reporting non-urgent issues until winds have subsided. 

Due to the significant volume of calls, responses may not be immediate. Our top priority is the health and safety of our residents. Public Works crews are focusing their clean-up efforts based on safety concerns, focusing on emergency damage and clearing trees from roadways. 

For updates, follow RCFD on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), and Nextdoor.

Facility Alert - City Hall is open today, January 8, 2025. However, front counter building inspectors will not be conducting regular business as they are focusing on windstorm related issues. 

Please note: 

• The courtyard at the City Hall entrance is closed. Visitors should use the Council Chamber doors for entry (to the right of the courtyard).
• The Police Station entrance is open. 
• The Archibald Library is closed, the Paul A. Biane Library is open. 

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Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 11:30 p.m.  

Due to the current windstorm, the City of Rancho Cucamonga has activated its Emergency Operations Center, where the Rancho Cucamonga Fire District, City Public Works and the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department staff are continuously monitoring the weather conditions. 

We encourage everyone to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary driving. Significant tree debris has been reported on roadways, along with power outages. Public Works crews will be working throughout the night to address wind-related issues.