Wildfires
2007 was a banner year for wildfires in Santa Clarita, when a three-year drought and Santa Ana winds combined to create "the perfect firestorm."
While wildfires are a natural part of the ecosystem in Southern California, there are things you can do to minimize your exposure. Follow the link above for more information.
Floods
Flood zones in the desert? You bet. Floods may be caused by heavy rains or the break of a dam.
Made available by the City of Santa Clarita, the map takes a bit to download, but you can zoom in to locate your home.
When the heavy rains arrive during the winter months, some residents find it impossible to leave, or sometimes get to, their homes.
The roads most frequently affected are Sand Canyon Road, Placerita Canyon Road, San Francisquito Canyon Road, and the north end of
Bouquet Canyon Road (near Vasquez Canyon Road).
Pitchess Detention Center
Just off Interstate 5 at Hasley Canyon Road in Castaic is Pitches Detention Center, also known as "Wayside." The population of medium to maximum security inmates varies daily between seven to eight thousand men.
Although rare, breakouts do happen at which time local residents are notified. Check our local newspaper,
The Signal, for additional information in their archives.
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The Cemex Mega Mining Project
Just off State Hwy 14 in Soledad Canyon is the focus of a battle between the City of Santa Clarita and the company with the federal rights to mine 56 million tons of aggregate over the next 20 years. Said
to be the largest gravel mining project ever approved by the federal Bureau of Land Management, it would add an 18-wheel truck full of rocks to the freeways every two minutes. The effect on air quality and
massive amounts of ground water are of great concern.
On February 6, 2007, the City of Santa Clarita and CEMEX USA announced a truce in an effort to find a middle ground that will limit mining in Soledad Canyon, while providing CEMEX with fair and full value for
their proposed project. A four-point agreement was signed by City Manager Ken Pulskamp and CEMEX USA President Gilberto Perez. On December 19, 2007, the truce was extended through June 30, 2008.
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Visit the
Stop TMC! website.
West Ranch Beacon editor Dave Bossert posts periodic updates as well.
The Whittaker-Bermite Property
Set behind the metro station off Soledad Canyon Road, 988 acres of land used as a military flare and munitions facility from 1907-1987. They are now the focus of a cleanup operation, as the land is contaminated
with various chemical compounds.
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