Smoke, ash from fires prompts Riverside County health warning
Authorities investigate school threats in Riverside County
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VISIT CORONANEWSPRESS.COM
Thursday, September 12-September 18, 2024
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VOL. 8,
NO. 188
Fire unintentionally set by OC Public Works crew leaves path of destruction in Orange, Riverside counties By City News Service
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he Airport Fire that began in an Orange County canyon and quickly swelled through vegetation and marched into Riverside County continued to spread destruction in both counties Wednesday, with an unknown number of structures damaged or destroyed. According to Cal Fire, seven injuries have been reported from the fire that began Monday afternoon, although no details were provided. As of Wednesday morning, the fire was estimated at 22,376 acres, with no containment. On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved an emergency declaration in response to the fire, in hopes of obtain-
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ing additional financial resources for the firefight and eventual recovery. Meanwhile, Gov. Gavin Newsom secured assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for all the fires in the state, including the Airport Fire, the Bridge Fire burning in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties and the Line Fire in San Bernardino County. The Airport Fire began about 1 p.m. Monday near Trabuco Canyon Road in the area of the remotecontrolled airplane airport, said Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Sean Doran. OC Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said that by Tuesday morning, the fire had raced up the canyons and hillsides and crested
Firefighters line up trucks Tuesday to defend an area from the Airport Fire. | Photo courtesy of OCFA PIO/X
into Riverside County. The blaze also bore down on
Santiago Peak, which is home to a series of radio and
television broadcast towers, used not only by local media outlets but also federal and local government agencies. The fire appeared to lap right up to the base of some of the towers, but the equipment appeared to escape any serious damage. By early Tuesday evening, the flames marched downslope toward Lake Elsinore, with video from the area showing some structures and vehicles consumed by flames. Ortega Highway was closed between Grand Avenue and Nichols Institute. That area had been under a voluntary evacuation warning, but late Tuesday morning, mandatory evacuation orders were issued for areas along the highway near Caspers Park.
A mandatory evacuation order was previously issued for the Robinson Ranch community in Rancho Santa Margarita. Voluntary evacuation warnings were in place for residents on Rose Canyon Road, Trabuco Creek Road, Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Oaks Drive, Joplin Loop and Cook's Corner. Evacuation warnings were issued Tuesday for Silverado and Modjeska canyons. A "care and reception shelter" for evacuees was established at the Rancho Santa Margarita Bell Tour Regional Community Center, 22232 El Paseo. Large animals can be sheltered at the Orange County Fair Grounds, 88 Fair Drive See Airport Fire Page 13
Erin Gettis out as director of Riverside County Animal Services
Brush fire near Highland increases to over 34,000 acres
By City News Service
By Staff
iverside County Animal Services Director Erin Gettis has resigned amid a lawsuit over high kill rates at county shelters during her two-plus years as director, according to multiple media reports. Gettis announced her resignation last week and will leave her position effective Sept. 24, according to NBC Palm Springs. Assistant Director of Animal Services Kim Youngberg will serve as interim director.
Gettis will take a new position as executive director of the Riverside University Health System Medical Center, the Desert Sun reported. The lawsuit was filed against the county on Aug. 21 by four animal welfare activists in the Coachella Valley. The suit, spearheaded by the Rancho Mirage-based Walter Clark Law Group and filed in Riverside County See Erin Gettis Page 27
Superior Court, seeks a permanent injunction against the Department of Animal Services' humane euthanasia programs. The group called it a "groundbreaking case" that's predicated on the Hayden Act of 1998. That legislation, authored by then-state Sen. Tom Hayden, D-Santa Monica, states, in part, "no adoptable animal should be euthanized if it can be
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he Line Fire in San Bernardino County has grown to 34,659 acres with 14% containment and has prompted evacuations and road closures, state fire officials reported Wednesday. The fast-moving brush fire erupted Thursday near Base Line Road and Alpin Street in Highland, according to Cal Fire. No damage to structures has been reported but 65,600 buildings are threatened, including 9,200
structures under evacuation orders and 56,400 structures subject to evacuation warnings. "In the overnight hours of the Line Fire Wednesday, fire activity was moderated due to smoke shading and cooler weather," Cal Fire reported. "However, the fire grew on the north and east sides due to slope and vegetation driven runs." Officials said precautionSee Brush fire Page 28
ary power shutoffs occurred on one of the two main supply lines to Big Bear Valley including potential evacuation zones, causing possible power interruptions. On Wednesday fire officials expected elevated winds and continued dry conditions to allow the fire to grow. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday proclaimed a state of emergency in San Bernardino County and announced that