Last week, the U.S. Geological Survey released a new report on the probability of earthquakes throughout California. Using a new methodology, the agency prediction for quakes of moderate size (magnitude 6.5 to 7.5) decreased, but the likelihood of a quake greater than that size has increased. In terms of an earthquake of magnitude 6.7 (the…

The effects of the 2013 Mountain Fire continue to threaten the local biosystem even though the flames were extinguished long ago. Last month, Debra Nelson, U.S. Forest Service botanist on the San Jacinto Ranger District, led an expedition into Garner Valley’s Johnson Meadow to help protect native plants from the encroachment and invasion of the…

A Santa Ana wind event combined with near-record low fuel moisture posed a substantial fire threat through last weekend. The National Weather Service had forecast a Red Flag warning from early Friday morning, Oct. 4 through Sunday evening, Oct. 6. Besides the immediate threat that the weekend’s winds created, fire officials are concerned about it…