Eaton Fire first responders are using a Pasadena landmark as their command center. Tents are now strewn all over the Rose Bowl grounds, which hosted the Oregon Ducks and Ohio State football teams for the playoff game just over a week and a half ago.
“This year, the theme of the (Rose) parade was ‘Best Day Ever,’ and then the game pitted number one ranked Oregon Ducks against Ohio State, a team that’s now headed for the national championship, and it was the best day ever,” Steve Madison, Pasadena’s vice mayor, said.
“We had a million people here, the eyes of the world were on us, six days later, it was the worst day ever for thousands and thousands of our residents.”
The Rose Bowl, which is typically a joyous venue for athletic events and concerts, is currently home to over 3,500 employees who work 12-hour shifts while fighting the Eaton Fire.
“We’ve got departments from all over the western region are here to support us,” stated Tim Sell, the deputy chief of the Pasadena Fire Department.
“Both Mexico and Arizona are represented. We have to find a place for them to stay when they come here to support us in an emergency, so we’ve built a tiny city. They have units from Oregon and Utah that are all here.”
Crews return to what appears to be a big campground to rest after serving on the front lines.
They have a home base with food, bathing, and dormitories for sleeping.
The 102-year-old Rose Bowl has long been regarded as an emergency response location, according to city officials.