What counties are in southern california

Cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels are helping firefighters advance on a wildfire that scorched the San Fernando Valley hills and forced thousands to evacuate from their homes.The Los Angeles County Fire Department says Sunday the wildfire, which burned 12 square miles (31 square kilometers) is 41 percent contained.Fire crews will focus on building a perimeter around the fire and use aircrafts to drop retardant on areas that are difficult to reach by land.In all, the fire damaged or destroyed 32. A man went into cardiac arrest and died when the fire broke out late Thursday. The cause of the fire was under investigation and fire officials said they were looking into witness reports that they saw flames at the base of a power transmission tower. … [Read more...] about Firefighters make progress on Southern California wildfire

With windy, dry weather in the forecast, California utilities are considering shutting off power to more than 700,000 customers to try to prevent wildfires ignited by electrical equipment.Southern California Edison’s website showed Tuesday that more than 106,000 customers in parts of eight counties could face power cuts.That’s in addition to the more than 600,000 customers that Pacific Gas & Electric announced a day earlier could be affected.The largest numbers of potentially affected SoCal Edison customers are in Los Angeles County and to the east in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Also under consideration are areas to the west in Ventura County and to the north in Kern, Tulare, Inyo and Mono counties.On Monday, Pacific Gas & Electric announced possible blackouts in 30 northern and central counties starting Wednesday. … [Read more...] about Possible fire prevention power cutoffs expand in California

Authorities say one person died when a small plane crashed and caught fire in a field near a Southern California airport.Ventura County Fire Department Capt. Brian McGrath says crews responded around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday to reports of a plane down near Camarillo airport.McGrath says firefighters found the aircraft engulfed in flames and quickly extinguished the blaze. He says there’s one confirmed fatality.The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. … [Read more...] about 1 dead after plane crashes, burns near California airport

“Wow, big bullfrogs,” I thought as I heard “plop, plops” slapping the surface of the little pond.It was a perfect early fall morning for a sit-and-see adventure. There was still a chill in the shadows, but the warmth from the October sun felt good.Mornings are a busy time for birds, and I had decided to plunk down on a park bench at the edge of the little pond in Escondido’s Kit Carson Park and see what the local flocks were up to.There was a paddling of ducks drifting about, a single cormorant, a great blue heron watching from a nearby eucalyptus tree, a snowy egret and a couple of juvenile night herons pocking around at the water’s edge. A red-tailed hawk seemed to float overhead. As I sat quietly, a father and his young son came along the dirt path and again, I heard the bullfrogs plopping into the water.But they were not bullfrogs.What I had thought from a distance were muddy rocks or pieces of driftwood turned out to be turtles in varying sizes … [Read more...] about Column: Making friends at pond in Escondido’s Kit Carson Park

Welcome to the new look of the still-new Vegas Escapes newsletter. I’m Catharine Hamm, the travel editor for the Los Angeles Times, and in the interest of full disclosure, I love Las Vegas.Even when it’s hot. Maybe especially when it is.We SoCal folks know hot, right? Of course we do, and we don’t much like it. So I say to escape the heat, go to Vegas.Sure, it’s expected to be 15 degrees warmer there this weekend, but air conditioning is a way of life for this Mojave Desert city. Heat’s just not an issue as long as you enjoy the great indoors. And it is great. No wonder Elvis is said to have uttered, “Man, I really like Las Vegas.” We have some stories this week that will show you why 42 million people a year, more than a quarter of them from Southern California, like it too. Especially on Sundays. Even though National Tequila Day has passed. And often when Sasquatch is involved.—Catharine HammTEQUILA!Think of caramel, chocolate, citrus, … [Read more...] about Newsletter: Vegas Escapes: You can chill in Vegas