California
California Line Fire: NASA snaps “fire clouds” as people told stay indoors
Images taken from space show vast plumes of smoke billowing from the wildfires burning on the outskirts of Los Angeles, filling the air with particulate pollution.
The Line Fire in San Bernardino County threw out so much smoke and heat that it generated “fire clouds”—also known as pyrocumulus or flammagenitus—in the sky above it, which were snapped from space.
The smoke from this fire, as well as from the Bridge Fire and Airport Fire nearby, have wreaked havoc on the air quality between the eastern edge of L.A. and the Coachella Valley, sparking warnings for residents to stay indoors.
Pyrocumulus clouds are formed when extreme heat rises into the atmosphere, often from a wildfire or volcanic eruption. The intense heat causes the air near the ground to rise rapidly, eventually cooling and condensing into water droplets, forming a towering cumulus cloud.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.
In the case of wildfires or volcanic eruptions, pyrocumulus clouds often contain large amounts of ash, soot, and other particles that are lofted into the air along with the water vapor, giving the cloud a dark, dirty appearance.
These images of the fire clouds rising above the Line Fire were captured from space by the OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8.
On Tuesday, the smoke from this fire and the others burning nearby caused “Moderate to Unhealthy” Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in Palm Springs and Indio.
“Windblown dust will add to the current smoke pollution and is expected to cause Air Quality Index (AQI) values to reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or worse in the Coachella Valley and Banning pass between Tuesday evening and Thursday morning,” the South Coast AQMD said in a statement.
The South Coast AQMD warns residents to “limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or seeking alternate shelter,” avoid physical activity and use AC or air purifiers.
The AQI is calculated based on several key air pollutants regulated by health standards, including PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. At “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” levels, members of sensitive groups —like children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or heart conditions—may experience health effects.
The Line Fire, which started near Highland on September 5, has now burned 34,659 acres as of about 7 a.m. local time on September 11 and is only about 14 percent contained. Over 65,600 structures are at risk from the blaze, and several neighborhoods have Evacuation Orders and Evacuation Warnings in place. The smoke from other nearby fires has actually helped slow the spread of the blaze.
“In the overnight hours of the Line Fire Wednesday, fire activity was moderated due to smoke shading and cooler weather. However, the fire grew on the north and east sides due to slope and vegetation driven runs,” Cal Fire said in a report this morning.
“Today elevated winds and continued dry conditions will allow the fire to grow. Smoke from fires across the region will help moderate fire activity unless the skies clear and the smoke thins. That would allow for more slope and vegetation aligned runs. There are 3,179 personnel assigned to the fire. Limited resource availability continues to hamper control efforts.”
To the west of the Line Fire, just north of Glendora, is the Bridge Fire. Burning across both Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, this blaze is 47,904 acres in area and 0 percent contained.
“Excessive heat and Red Flag Warning until Wednesday afternoon due to hot, dry, and unstable conditions with gusty onshore winds. Winds will shift to the west and northwest on Wednesday, which may impact higher elevation areas. Temperatures will remain high, however humidity will improve and increase slightly. Large vertical plume growth and visible smoke columns will be expected again for this fire,” an Inciweb update said.
To the south of both of these fires, near Trabuco Canyon, the Airport Fire has grown from 5,432 acres on Tuesday to 22,376 acres as of Wednesday morning. This fire is also 0 percent contained.
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A California bill would let insurers monitor customers’ driving data in exchange for discounted premiums.
Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, the author of AB 311, said the digital monitoring, known as telematics, rewards good driving and would improve safety. In real time, telematics technology would track data such as speed, location and how a vehicle is being driven.
“We have to slow people down,” McKinnor said. “That is the whole purpose for this bill, is driver safety.”
A voter-approved law from 1988, Prop 103, required insurance rates to be based mainly on driving record, miles driven and experience. It made California the only state in the country to prohibit telematics.
McKinnor believes the law is outdated. She argued that her bill would also help good drivers who pay higher rates because of where they live.
“Where I live definitely brings my insurance up,” McKinnor said. “If we both drive the same way, we’ll get charged the same way, instead of by our ZIP code.”
California’s Department of Insurance and consumer groups oppose the bill, citing privacy concerns.
“We can’t look behind the algorithm and see what weight it’s giving to different criteria, which is a big problem,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. “Auto insurance, otherwise, is transparent. This is why the Department of Insurance is opposed, because of the lack of transparency in the algorithm.”
The proposed savings in exchange for good driving might not be guaranteed. Telematics data from the Maryland Insurance Administration showed that 31% of drivers who opted into the program saw a drop in rates, 24% saw an increase and 45% saw no change to their premiums.
“This collects an awful lot of data about people, more than they know, and it’s like having Big Brother in your back seat,” Court said.
McKinnor insisted that drivers will not be forced to enroll in the program.
“It’s still opt-in in the other 49 states,” she said. “We’re not going to make this mandatory. It’ll be a per-volunteer situation.”
McKinnor’s bill passed through the legislature’s insurance committee. It’s expected to be presented to the full Senate in August.
Huntington Beach police are vowing to prevent a potential “takeover” event being promoted across social media that they believe could get out of control.
Police said they became aware of the event from a flyer online advertising an “end of summer beach bash” in the city.
“Dear ‘Beach Bash’ organizers…” police said in an Instagram post Thursday. “Thanks for the flyer. We’ve seen it too.”
They continued, “We have no intention of allowing that to happen here.”
No further details were provided about when the event was planned to take place or the exact location.
Police and the city of Huntington Beach said they’re working to prevent the event following similar events in Southern California that resulted in violence, vandalism and other criminal activity.
One chaotic event that was held in Newport Beach on the Fourth of July ended with more than 400 people being arrested, according to police. Some partygoers were seen fist fighting, while others allegedly vandalized property and local businesses, including a Pavilions grocery store.
Newport Beach police said social media posts drew a large influx of people to Newport Pier in a short amount of time, and the event got out of control.
Huntington Beach PD warned that anyone who organizes, promotes or participates in criminal activity associated with a takeover event may be arrested or prosecuted. Charges may include incitement to riot, vandalism, theft, assault, reckless driving, unlawful assembly, conspiracy or other applicable offenses.
They also warned that juveniles would not be exempt from punishment, and parents or guardians may also be liable for damages caused by their child’s actions.
The HBPD Special Investigations Bureau has already identified individuals believed to be involved in organizing and promoting the event, according to police.
If you have information regarding this event, you are urged to contact Huntington PD’s Special Investigations Bureau at 714-536-5991.
California
Popular California Fast-Casual Chain Mendocino Farms Opens 100th Location in Santa Barbara – edhat
Santa Barbara has become home to a milestone location for a popular sandwich and salad chain.
Mendocino Farms has officially opened its doors at La Cumbre Plaza, marking the company’s 100th location.
Located at 3851 State Street, the restaurant is Mendocino Farms’ first location in Santa Barbara.
Announcing its new store in a social media post, Mendocino Farms said the restaurant offers chef-curated sandwiches and fresh salads using seasonal ingredients.
“Whether you’re fueling your next adventure or settling in for a sunny lunch with friends, we can’t wait to be part of your community. Here’s to our next chapter, together!” the business wrote on Instagram.
View this post on Instagram
The restaurant features a custom mural by local artist DJ Javier, as shared by Mendocino Farms in an Instagram post.
The store opened on June 30 and marked its first day with a host of activities to celebrate its launch.
The opening day featured a live DJ, activities such as ‘Rodeo Riviera’, a hat bar, live sandwich-making sessions with the chefs, and a postcard station.
The location is open daily between 10:30 a.m. and 9 p.m., according to its website.
Diners can enjoy a special summer menu along with the regular options of sandwiches and salads that Mendocino Farms is known for.
View this post on Instagram
In addition to its menu options, the restaurant also offers catering services with deliveries available from 10 a.m. onwards.
The space occupied by Mendocino Farms earlier housed Panera Bread, which closed in 2025, per the Restaurant Guy.
About Mendocino Farms
The Los Angeles-based fast-casual chain is known for its selection of freshly made sandwiches, salads, wraps, and soups.
Founded in 2005, Mendocino Farms offers classic as well as limited signature items.
The company opened its first location below the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and has since expanded into a regional brand, according to the Restaurant Guy.
In addition to California, Mendocino Farms has locations in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, and Washington, the company’s website shows.
The restaurants feature a rotating menu of items, along with a range of kids’ menu items that are served with a beverage and a choice of side.
Additionally, the chain offers a variety of dessert options, packaged chips, and packaged beverages.
The company is known for sourcing all its ingredients from ethical local farms and small producers.
All meat and poultry items served are antibiotic-free and humanely raised, while eggs are sourced from cage-free farms, according to its website. Fruits and vegetables are hand-picked, and bread is locally and freshly sourced.
The menu includes a range of items to accommodate all types of diets, such as flexitarian, vegan, and gluten-free.
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