California

California Police to Crack Down on Poppy Superbloom Tourists, Influencers

Published

2 years ago

February 8, 2023

California Police to Crack Down on Poppy Superbloom Tourists, Influencers

4 years after one small Southern California metropolis was overrun by vacationers hoping to catch a glimpse of the poppy superbloom, officers are issuing a transparent message: keep away or face arrest.

In 2019, tens of hundreds of tourists confirmed up day by day in Lake Elsinore, 90 minutes east of Los Angeles, drawn by the so-called superbloom that blanketed hillsides in an explosion of orange, yellow and purple flowers. Visitors slowed to a standstill, elements of town had been lower off as a result of gridlock and roads had been stuffed with deserted autos.

This yr, metropolis officers are taking no probabilities.

Native police say they’re taking a zero-tolerance strategy to guests, and can make arrests if wanted.

“That is the warning proper now,” Sheriff

Chad Bianao

of Riverside County Sheriff’s Workplace mentioned. “We could have a zero-tolerance for those who are right here trespassing and parking on the perimeters of roadways.”

He mentioned they had been taking motion in response to what transpired in 2019, noting that the big crowds of individuals “had no regard for the world and its folks.”

A so-called superbloom of poppies attracted tens of hundreds of tourists to Lake Elsinore, Calif., in 2019.

Photograph:

Gregory Bull/Related Press

Guests and social-media influencers turned footage of the wildflowers into essential, utilizing them because the backdrop for yoga poses, romantic cuddling, cute child pictures and even product placement. Many strayed from official footpaths, treading over delicate poppies and desert dandelions. The flower vacationers additionally plucked them or sprawled on them, typically bare, whereas posing for images.

Superblooms typically happen after wet winters are adopted by a sufficiently heat early spring, based on the Nationwide Parks Service. These situations weren’t met in 2020, 2021 and 2022, disappointing any would-be poppy peepers. When situations are proper, superblooms often happen mid-February to mid-April.

The town noticed “Disney-sized crowds” in 2019 that trampled the habitat and brought on injury to property, Lake Elsinore Mayor

Natasha Johnson

mentioned in a press convention Tuesday.

“Many got here unprepared they usually positioned an undue burden on the emergency responders and positioned themselves and others in danger,” she mentioned.

“Tragically a California freeway patrol motorbike officer was fatally injured. We can not afford to have this occur once more,” she added.

Ms. Johnson mentioned a superbloom of 2019 proportions wasn’t but occurring this yr. Whether or not or not that might deter the crowds stays to be seen.

The mayor mentioned Walker Canyon, an space of wildflowers that attracted massive crowds in 2019, has been closed to all guests. “The paths on each private and non-private land are closed. Parking is closed. Entry is closed,” she mentioned.

She provided a suggestion for would-be guests: “This weekend I encourage you to concentrate on the Tremendous Bowl and never the superbloom we aren’t having.”

Write to Gareth Vipers at gareth.vipers@wsj.com

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California

California prisoner firefighter program draws harsh criticism

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January 17, 2025

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California prisoner firefighter program draws harsh criticism

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California

A giant battery power plant is on fire in California

Published

8 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

A giant battery power plant is on fire in California

A fire broke out at the Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility in Central California Thursday. The battery power plant is the largest in the world according to the company, Vistra, that owns it.

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation orders for nearby residents and closed parts of Highway 1 in response. County Health officials have asked other residents to shelter indoors with windows and doors closed and to switch off ventilation systems.

The company will investigate the cause of the fire once it’s out, Vistra spokesperson Jenny Lyon told The Mercury News. Vistra did not immediately respond to an email from The Verge. It completed an expansion of the facility in 2023, adding more than 110,000 battery modules needed to store renewable energy. Energy storage facilities like this one are essential for power grids to be able to keep enough excess solar and wind energy so it’s available when the sun goes down and winds wane.

This isn’t the first battery fire in the area. A nearby Pacific Gas & Electric battery plant stocked with Tesla batteries caught fire back in 2022. The year prior, Vistra had to temporarily shut down its battery plant at Moss Landing after a malfunctioning smoke detector and heat-suppression system sprayed water on its batteries, Canary Media reported.

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California

California wildfires live updates: Firefighters battle to contain blazes while thousands wait to return home

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January 17, 2025

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California wildfires live updates: Firefighters battle to contain blazes while thousands wait to return home

As winds die down in Southern California, firefighters have been able to get some of the most devastating wildfires under control. But as residents are allowed to return to the areas, the challenges of recovery are becoming painfully clear. Former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate joins Stephanie Ruhle to discuss.

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