Public Safety

3.6 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Lake Henshaw

Oct. 29: By City News Service

The temblor struck shortly after 9:20 a.m. roughly 1.2 miles southeast of Lake Henshaw.

Firefighters Battle California Blazes Before Windstorms Return

Oct. 29: By Associated Press

Crews fought Tuesday to drown, slash and smother wildfires that have incinerated dozens of homes in Northern and Southern California before returning windstorms can blow them back into furious life.

Strong Santa Ana Winds Expected To Raise Fire Risk

Oct. 29: By City News Service

Strong Santa Ana winds are expected again in San Diego County beginning late Tuesday, raising the threat of wildfires through Thursday evening.

Santa Ana Conditions To Raise Local Wildfire Hazards Again This Week

Oct. 28: By City News Service

The conditions — featuring winds out of the east and northeast at 50 to 80 mph, combined with humidity levels as low as 5% — are likely to be the strongest of the season so far and create "an extreme fire-weather environment."

California Wildfires Erupt In Los Angeles, Burn In Wine Country

Oct. 28: By Associated Press

Firefighters battled destructive wildfires in Northern California wine country and on the wealthy west side of Los Angeles on Monday, trying to beat back flames that forced tens of thousands to flee their homes.

Millions Remain Without Power In Northern California As Fires Spread

Oct. 28: By Associated Press

As nearly 200,000 people remain under evacuation order from threat of wildfire, some of the millions of people in Northern California on track to get their electricity back may not have power restored before another possible round of shut-offs and debilitating winds.

3 Die in Wildfires In Mexico’s Baja California

Oct. 26: By Associated Press

Mexico’s civil defense agency said Friday that fires near Tecate, near Tijuana and between the coastal towns of Rosarito and Ensenada had forced 1,645 people to evacuate their homes.

State Allocates Funding to Cities, Counties Affected by Power Shut-Offs

Oct. 25: By City News Service

Newsom announced the establishment of the Local Government Public Safety Power Shutoffs Resiliency Program, which will provide funding to local governments to maintain power service to high- risk areas affected by power shutoffs.

California Regulators Say Ratepayer-Financed Wildfire Fund Can Move Forward

Oct. 25: By John Carroll

The California Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously Thursday to approve a funding mechanism for a wildfire fund. Utilities across the state can tap into it to help pay for damages caused by wildfires.

Brush Fire in Valley Center Prompts Evacuations

Oct. 25: By Christopher Underwood, City News Service, Shalina Chatlani

The fire ignited early this afternoon and has burned at least one home, according to Cal Fire.

Roundtable: Blackouts Return To California Fire Zones

Oct. 25: By Bennett Lacy, Mark Sauer

Preemptive power outages return to California for the second time this month; Governor Gavin Newsom asks for an investigation into high gas prices; and critics accuse the San Diego City Council of election shopping in its move to place the hotel tax vote on the March primary ballot.

US Will Increase Inspections To Find Guns Bound For Mexico

Oct. 25: By Max Rivlin-Nadler

The effort called “Operation Frozen,” which will increase southbound inspections of cars at the border, comes after a deadly shootout last week in the city of Culiacan, Mexico.

Power Cut For 19,000 Customers In Effort To Prevent Wildfires

Oct. 25: By City News Service

Unseasonably hot temperatures and strong Santa Ana winds will continue Friday in San Diego County, raising the threat of wildfires and prompting power shutoffs for about 19,000 customers in a bid to prevent wildfires.

PG&E; Blasted For Not Being More Like SDG&E; In Managing Power Shutoffs, But Is The Comparison Fair?

Oct. 24: By Claire Trageser

A few weeks ago, PG&E cut power to more than 700,000 customers. At the time, politicians and pundits pointed to SDG&E, which shut off electricity to about 500 customers, as a better example of wildfire preparedness.

UCSD Supercomputer Helps Firefighters Battle Southern California Wildfires

Oct. 23: By Erik Anderson

UC San Diego's supercomputer is using its power to draw up fast wildfire simulations that are helping firefighters in the field.