Southern California

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Air Pollution High in Fire's Wake
Air Pollution High in Fire's Wake
Oct 27, 2007 2:16 PM CDT

Air Pollution High in Fire's Wake

Breathing carefully, residents return to face gas, water shortages, power outages

(Newser) - Evacuees trickling home in fire-ravaged Southern California find themselves largely without power, natural gas or potable water. Perhaps worse, the barely breathable air is laden with soot and dust, raising health concerns, the AP reports. Satellite pictures show thick smoke throughout the region. “We're all at risk of the...

Red Tape Grounded Copters in California Fires

Residents pick up the pieces after blaze

(Newser) - Firefighting helicopters sat idle as wildfires broke out across California, an AP investigation concludes, thanks to a web of bureaucracy. By the time Navy, Marine, and National Guard aircraft got clearance, up to a day after blazes started, it was already too dangerous to fly. Others were missing crucial equipment...

Wildfire Winds to Drop Tonight
Wildfire Winds to Drop Tonight
Oct 24, 2007 9:48 AM CDT

Wildfire Winds to Drop Tonight

(Newser) - The latest forecasts show the gale-force winds whipping flames across Southern California for the fourth day slackening by early evening, giving aircraft an opening to fight fires that have forced almost a million to evacuate, the AP reports. The news prompted one emergency official to declare: "The worst is...

Million Flee Fires; Feds Mobilize
Million Flee Fires; Feds Mobilize
Oct 24, 2007 4:59 AM CDT

Million Flee Fires; Feds Mobilize

Bush steps up to avoid Katrina repeat

(Newser) - Firefighters look for the wind to change late this afternoon, as more than 15 rampaging wildfires continue to turn swaths of Southern California into writhing walls of flames. In a bid to avoid a repeat of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, President Bush yesterday declared a federal emergency for seven counties...

500,000 Flee So Cal Firestorm
500,000 Flee So Cal Firestorm
Oct 23, 2007 4:58 AM CDT

500,000 Flee So Cal Firestorm

Powerful Santa Ana gusts drive wildfires; more than 800 buildings destroyed

(Newser) - High winds and hotter temperatures are forecast for Southern California today, frustrating firefighters struggling to contain the runaway blazes that have forced more than half a million people from their homes and consumed almost 900 buildings in the last two days. At least a dozen fires are still torching tinder-dry...

Fire Rescues Tax Resources
Fire Rescues Tax Resources
Oct 22, 2007 12:16 PM CDT

Fire Rescues Tax Resources

(Newser) - As wildfires rage across the region, Southern California officials are begging residents to evacuate when ordered and to avoid making phone calls, CNN reports. “We've been unable to do any suppression effort because the fire resources are being used to do rescues,” one fire chief railed. Rescuers complain...

Breaking SoCal Heat Wave Leaves 27 Dead

Eight days of triple-digit temperatures hits hard

(Newser) - Southern California's heat wave finally seems to be breaking after killing at least 27 people in crushing temperatures. The deaths include an elderly couple who told neighbors they were turning off their air conditioning to save money. Several victims died while illegally crossing the US-Mexico border in searing heat.

Triple-Digit Temps Zap Power for 23,000 in SoCal

Electric companies scramble as 23,000 homes lose power

(Newser) - Continued triple-digit temperatures across Southern California fried transformers as everyone turned on the AC, knocking out power across the region. The LA Times reports  21,000 homes were still waiting for power last night, and Southern California Edison was scrambling to keep up. "We need is a break in...

So Cal May Ban Wood-Burning Fireplaces

Proposed regs will eliminate new fireplaces; limit current ones in winter

(Newser) - Southern Californians will be roasting their chestnuts in the oven if an air pollution plan is passed that would ban fireplaces in all new homes and prohibit wood-fueled blazes for as many as 20 days every winter. The regulations, proposed by South Coast Air Quality Management, seeks to clean up...

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