Monterey County Public Safety Digest

Schools in flood-prone areas, in some cases protected by aging levees, face possible floods similar to those that have already swept through schools in Alameda, Merced and Monterey counties this year, FEMA data shows.

Before this winter’s storms first started in January, the Monterey County Mosquito Abatement District had already treated the normal mosquito hotspots within the 458 square miles that they cover. “We hit ahead of time, but we didn't know how bad those rains were going to be,” said Ken Klemme, the district manager.

For most Californians, the sight of aircraft spewing neon pink liquid over flaming trees and brush has become a hallmark of aggressive wildfire suppression campaigns. But some forest advocates say the substance does more harm than good. A federal lawsuit could reshape how the U.S. Forest Service battles wildfires throughout the western United States.

Sprawl has allowed Californians to live closer to nature and buy homes where it is cheaper to build. But it has also left millions vulnerable to wildfires and flooding.

Last year, the Seaside City Council considered banning the sale of State Fire Marshal-approved, Safe and Sane Fireworks, or to place a measure before the voters on the ballot that would cost the city about $150,000.

Since battery energy storage systems have been housed at the Moss Landing Power Plant site, there have been at least three incidents concerning the lithium ion batteries.

As seismic engineers study the earthquakes that killed more than 20,000, it's becoming clear that a significant cause involved a building design common in California.

The earthquake in Turkey and Syria is just the latest warning of the potential risks for other seismically active areas.

Like much of California, Monterey County remained in the thick of not just storm recovery but the aftermath.

Fernando Velasquez Perez suffered a medical emergency and later died after life-saving measures were unsuccessful.

Evacuation orders were doled out by the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office as early as 7 a.m. Monday morning for areas around the Carmel River. Subsequent calls to evacuate prompted residents of low-lying areas around the Arroyo Seco, Pajaro and Big Sur rivers to find higher ground.

“It’s bad—hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage,” one business owner said.

Large waves have taken down the back of a house located off Yankee Point Drive south of Carmel Highlands. No injuries have been reported.

Some of the most vulnerable Californians can receive thousands of dollars from the state to better protect their homes.

California should set up a restitution system for crime victims, curtail the use of money bail and limit when cops can make traffic stops that disproportionately affect Black and Latino drivers.

Higher monthly bills might jolt PG&E customers in the wake of the utility's request for additional revenue due to the company's spending on wildfire mitigation and catastrophic events.

Facing a mental health crisis, Cal Fire crews sought less of a workload. But they have to wait two years under their new contract.

According to a new report, a San Jose Fire engine stopped at more than one adult entertainment establishment on the night of Oct. 5, when an infamous video was shot.

State regulators plan to impose a $155.4 million fine against PG&E Corp. over the Zogg Fire, which killed four people in Shasta County. PG&E is already under criminal indictment in the fire, and has pleaded innocent to manslaughter and other charges.

Though their diminished numbers hamper local wildfire response, real-life incarcerated firefighters are still on the front lines in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.

Gas stoves in California homes are leaking cancer-causing benzene, researchers found in a new study, though they say more research is needed to understand how many homes have leaks.

A study by researchers at UCLA and the University of Chicago says that California’s wildfires of 2020 destroyed 4.2 million acres of forest—and erased years of progress the state made on battling climate change.

Working as a firefighter is physically and mentally stressful. Now, the Salinas Fire Department has a new member on their crew to help with that. His name is Cruz, and he’s the department’s first-ever therapy dog.

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, trying to ease an insurance crisis that’s hurt rural California, has announced that all carriers active in fire-prone communities must incorporate his “Safer from Wildfires” program into their premiums.

According to the first in a series of reports to come from a consulting firm hired by California officials, PG&E’s efforts to improve wildfire safety are hindered by aging equipment, damaged power poles and hazardous trees that went undetected by the utility’s crews.

One of California’s top elected officials announced steps to limit how developments can be built in areas that are at highest risk of wildfire. Attorney General Rob Bonta released guidelines for local governments to follow when they are deciding whether to approve subdivisions in the “wildland urban interface.”

After a long debate, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors approved funds to close a budget shortfall for the county-owned Pajaro County Sanitation District. “Without forgiving this loan those rates would be much higher for this community,” Supervisor Luis Alejo said, adding that Pajaro is “definitely the definition of a disadvantaged community.”

The Marina City Council has approved a $4.2 million contract to remove old Fort Ord buildings near Marina High School. The council voted 5-0 on a bid from Unlimited Environmental Inc. of Long Beach. The buildings are a frequent target of arson.

The California Highway Patrol is marking the two-decade anniversary of the Amber Alert system. Hundreds of abducted children have been found and returned safely to their families following its implementation in 2002.

Dr. Ronald Li, a veterinarian at UC Davis, treated 23 cats rescued from the Tubbs fire in 2017. In addition to the expected traumatic injuries, something else caught Li’s attention. “We noticed clots forming within their hearts,” he said. “But at that time, we didn’t know why.”

Senate Bill 1012, a law that will require California State Parks to restrict open fires, has been unanimously passed through the Committee of Water, Parks, and Wildlife. The bill instructs parks to work with the guidelines of local fire departments. The bill could appear before the full assembly in August.

More than 100 representatives and employees from the state, county governments and transportation agencies gathered in Salinas to test Monterey County’s emergency response capabilities.