Climate & Environment

The human element is still key in detecting wildfires. But new tech is aiding the fight

Supercomputers, drones and sensors are all being deployed to help firefighters on the ground. Here's a look at some of the technology in use today, and some that may be contributing soon.

Plumes of smoke are visible from a hillside a stretching over residential areas.

Sad news: Minke whale that captured attention is found dead in Long Beach Harbor

The whale had been swimming around the harbor for a week.

A paved sidewalk runs down the left hand side of the photo, with the ocean on the right. The back of a whale can be seen perching out from the water.

A second life for Altadena’s burned trees as lumber that stays local

The Altadena Reciprocity Project aims to keep trees from burn sites in the community after the Eaton Fire.

After losing his home in the Eaton Fire, the work of a volunteer trail rebuilder takes on new meaning

An Altadena resident and dedicated trail steward now has a two-fold mission — to rebuild his house, and the nearby trails that made it home.

A man with a brown mustache and light skin stands amid rubble of a burned home. He wears a blue cap and army-colored jacket and black pants and brown boots.

A stuck and ‘skittish’ minke whale is still swimming in Long Beach Harbor

Officials have attempted to shepherd the whale back out to sea for days.

Mild conditions for SoCal before the heat rolls in next week

Sunny and dry weather for SoCal before temperatures begin to rise late next week.

A shining sun is visible low in the sky at left with the skyline of downtown L.A. to the right.

Thunderstorms and possible hail jolt parts of LA County as flash flood warning is issued

After mostly clear skies Thursday, National Weather Service issued a heads up for inclement weather from Calabasas to Santa Clarita.

A view of partially-cloudy skies with a view of the downtown Los Angeles skyline following several days of atmospheric river storms as seen from Boyle Heights

Desperate for money while fighting a massive landslide, Rancho Palos Verdes plans to make its case in Washington

The city is tapping a lobbying firm to make the case in D.C. for more help in shoring up a landslide that is slowly destroying entire neighborhoods.

An overhead photo of a residential area with broken roads due to landslides.

What's in that bright red fire retardant? No one will say, so we had it tested

An LAist investigation found toxic heavy metals in samples of fire retardant collected from the Palisades, Eaton and Franklin fires. Here's what that means.

Listen 13:24

A long trail of red follows an airplane over hills.

LA County looks to improve support for vulnerable, older people during disasters

A motion passed on Tuesday directs county departments to study making a registry of people who may need more help evacuating.

Elderly patients are evacuated into emergency vehicles as embers and flames approach during the Eaton fire in Pasadena on Tuesday.

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