Author: KESQ

Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – As students return to school and sports, desert temperatures remain a familiar concern.

Dr. Alex McDonald, a sports medicine specialist with Kaiser Permanente, said physical activity is critical but so is caution.

“We want to make sure our kids are healthy and active,” McDonald said. “However with the residual heat in August and September, we want to make sure we’re taking precautions.”

Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) began its school year Wednesday, as it has for years.

In a statement to News Channel 3, Joan L. Boiko the Coordinator of Communications & Community Outreach, said:

PSUSD has started each school year the first week of August for the last several years. The reason for the earlier start is two-fold: 1) Our high school students are able to complete mid-terms or finals before winter break and come back to a new semester rather than having to spend their winter break preparing for exams or completing work and 2) While most districts have two weeks off for winter break and one week for spring break, PSUSD has three weeks for winter break and two weeks for spring break. 

While the other two valley districts begin a week or two after PSUSD, the heat factor is the same until way after Labor Day. Our students are protected from the heat on our school buses and in our classrooms. We monitor heat risks and ensure that students are not outdoors if it is unsafe. 

Matt Garrison, Desert Christian Academy athletic director, said they’re staying on top of heat protection.

“We’ll do a little more film time,” Garrison said. “We might be in the weight room a little bit more.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for the full report at 10 and 11 p.m.

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Haley Meberg

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The annual Valley Wide Employment Expo will be held on September 17. 

On September 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the Valley Wide Employment Expo will take place in the Fantasy Springs Resort Casino- Special Events Center in Indio. 

Throughout this event, residents will have the chance to meet with top employers and receive free transportation to the expo with an RSVP. 

Prior to the event, a free prep workshop is available to help prospective employees stand out. 

This free workshop will take place on September 11, with an English workshop at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and a Spanish workshop at 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. 

In the free class, the public will receive information about resume help, interview tips, job fair prep, and professional wardrobe advice from Desert Best Friend’s Closet. 

To register for this event visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/valley-wide-employment-expo-tickets-1349181601489

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates.

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Peter Daut

In light of the extreme heat, the Imperial Irrigation District has issued a conserve alert.

The alert went into effect Tuesday and lasts through Friday. People are encouraged to voluntarily conserve energy to help take stress off the electric grid during the period of extreme heat.That includes avoiding the use of major appliances between peak hours of 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. 

If you’ve noticed your electric bill is higher than it was last summer, there’s a reason.

Robert Schettler, IID Spokesman says, “IID is planning for the future. So the board of directors looked at where we are now, and where we need to be, so they made a rate adjustment. So yes, the rate you’re paying for electricity rate now is higher than last year.”

People are also encouraged to turn off all necessary lights, and lower the blinds.

IID says that energy is in high demand during heat waves and they want to make sure the power stays on. While there are resources in place, dialing back on the amount of stress placed on energy grids helps ensure working power. 

IID reports internal generation is currently stable and with the help of an energy conserve, the organization will have a greater ability to continue providing energy for customers in the Coachella Valley. 

For more information, stay with News Channel 3.

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Allie Anthony

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – It’s the first day of school for students in the Palm Springs Unified School District, and with high temperatures expected this week, district officials are asking families to take precautions.

Parents are encouraged to ensure their children dress appropriately for the heat and bring a reusable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day. To protect students from the extreme temperatures, schools will be keeping children indoors during the hottest parts of the day.

The district’s new superintendent, Marcus Funchess is looking forward to the year ahead. He’s encouraging families to start the year strong by sending students off with confidence and positivity.

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Garrett Hottle

PINYON PINES, Calif. (KESQ) While much of the firefighting focus remains on the Rosa Fire’s containment progress and Highway 74’s extended closure, some of the most revealing moments are unfolding quietly inside the evacuation zone where a handful of neighbors never left.

News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle spoke with two residents who chose to stay behind as flames crept dangerously close to their mountaintop home.

Mario Salazar and Alana Maudsley live in Pinyon Pines, at the edge of the ridge where the fire first broke out. Their property now overlooks blackened hillsides and pink streaks of flame retardant. Despite the evacuation order, they decided not to leave.

“He got the ping. He said he was on his way,” Maudsley explained. “And when I knew that, I went out and started wetting down the back just in case there were any embers… not even 30 minutes into watering, the power went out. And I’m like, oh man.”

With no electricity or running water, the couple is surviving on generators, They’re using gasoline sparingly balancing between survival and preparation.

“I figured with the light wind that we had, it was probably going to spread before they really got a handle on it,” Salazar said. “I really didn’t think we were in any danger.”

The view from their porch offers a sobering sight charred ridgelines and the fading echo of a fast-moving fire. But through it all, they say they were calm, calculated, and prepared.

“We weren’t worried one bit,” Salazar said. “We took in the totality of the circumstances the fire units assigned to the area, the weather, lack of strong winds, and our own preparedness.”

While others were unable to return due to closed roads, Salazar has taken on the added responsibility of caring for neighbors’ animals.

“So I’ve been going around, watering and feeding the chickens and watering a mule across the street.”

He estimates about half of the residents in Pinyon Pines stayed behind and like them, weren’t alarmed.

The Rosa Fire is still active, but with containment increasing, officials expect Highway 74 to remain closed through Saturday. Meanwhile, for those still living without power or access, life continues not in panic, but in purpose.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is not taking in any cats or kittens until next week due to a contagious virus in the facility.

The shelter said a temporary pause was instituted on July 31 because of an outbreak of oral ulcers present only in cats.

Oral ulcers, or stomatitis, were described as sores in the tongue, gums or inner cheeks, and most commonly spread if a feline isn’t vaccinated or an underlying cause isn’t treated in time.

A staff member told City News Service on Wednesday that the virus was present only at the Palm Sprints shelter and spread quickly due to overcrowding. It was not affecting operations at the four shelters run by Riverside County Department of Animal Services.

Normal operations at the Palm Springs shelter should resume by Aug. 13, officials said. Residents who find cats within the city before then were advised to contact the admissions team at 760-416-5718, and they will provide additional options for the feline.

Like other shelters in Southern California, the Palm Springs facility continues to experience overcrowding, and will host a Clear the Shelters event to battle overpopulation for large dogs and cats, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 16-17 at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave.

All adoption fees will be waived that weekend due to generous members of the Coachella Valley community.

In addition, NBC Palm Springs will broadcast the event, and all adoptions will come with two free tickets to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert and an adoption package from Tailwaggers Pet Food and Supplies.

Officials said kennels currently house about three dogs each and faceovercrowding especially with larger dogs.

More information can be found at psanimalshelter.org.

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Haley Meberg

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. (KESQ)– Cal Fire paid tribute to firefighters and a pilot killed in the line of duty in separate incidents occurring on August 6, nearly 20 years apart. 

Cal Fire took the day to remember heroes Firefighter II Chris Kanton, Captain Tim Rodriguez, Assistant Chief Josh Bischof, and Pilot Tony Sousa, who made the ultimate sacrifice while on duty. 

Firefighter II Chris Kanton, 23, was involved in a fatal engine crash on August 6, 2005, while responding to an emergency call for assistance in Riverside County. The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation say he completed three years as a seasonal firefighter in Riverside County and served on the HAZMAT team at Station 81 near Palm Springs. 

Kanton became a recipient for the Medal of Valor for his act of heroism in 2006 and is still thought of fondly by the community as the 20 year remembrance day of this tragic event takes place. 

18-years after the fatal engine crash, tragedy struck again on August 6, when two firefighting helicopters collided while battling the Broadway Fire in Cabazon leaving three firefighters dead. 

Two of the three men were senior firefighters, Captain Tim Rodriguez and Assistant Chief Josh Bischof; with the last victim being Pilot Tony Sousa, a helicopter pilot for CAL FIRE. 

Prior to the 2023 incident, Assistant Chief Bischof served 24 years of fire service for the community and Chief Rodriguez served 19 years of fire service. 

Following the devastating crash CAL FIRE and several local firefighters took to social media to honor the sacrifice made by the courageous firemen and pilot. 

Two years later, loved ones and community members took to the memorial site to pay honor to the sacrifice made by the men for their communities. 

A resolution was recently signed into law which will rename a portion of I-10 in honor of the fallen heroes. It is expected to be completed in the Fall.

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CAL FIRE says all four men were remarkable leaders, beloved colleagues, and passionate public servants. 

The organization asks the community to please keep their families, fire family, and friends in your thoughts and prayers as they remember these fallen heroes.

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Spencer Blum

We are heating up here in the Coachella Valley! We are now under both a First Alert Weather Alert and an Extreme Heat Warning as temperatures soar well above the seasonal average! The Extreme Heat Warning will remain in place for the deserts of Southern California at least through Friday evening.

All this heat comes from a dominant and persistent ridge of high pressure located over the desert southwest. It will continue to dominate through the rest of the workweek. Heading into the weekend, the ridge will gradually begin to somewhat weaken. This will allow temperatures to fall by a few degrees, but it will still remain very hot and well above the seasonal average.

It is hot over the next few days to say the very least. In fact, we are nearing record high territory for some days. It’s important to ALWAYS practice heat safety as usual. Heading into the weekend and next week, there is not much relief in terms of high heat, so stay cool out there.

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Athena Jreij

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — The Palm Desert Community Center is serving as the evacuation site for Rosa Fire victims.

According to the Desert Recreation District, the facility’s basketball courts are closed to the public to provide shelter to those displaced. The gym, lobby and multipurpose rooms remain open.

It comes as fire crews grapple with the 1,600+ acre Rosa Fire, and evacuation zones remain in place for the area of Alpine Village and Pinyon Pines.

Red Cross officials say so far, dozens have sought out services including shelter, food, water and mental health services and there’s still room for more.

Leonard Busto evacuated his home Monday as the flames quickly spread near his home.

“My work, my computers, my photo albums, you know, that could all be gone. All of your possessions that you have, that’s a daunting experience.”

Busto had seven animals in his care when the fire broke out and had to lean on the county animal services to safely evacuate them all.

 “It’s a very humbling experience to have to come and rely on others and the kindness and their generosity. We didn’t have any place to stay. I mean, you don’t even have the clothing, just the clothes on your back,” Busto said.

Ruben Sanchez was also displaced with his disabled son, uncle and two dogs. He says he left his home unsure of what he’d come back to.

“Once it went to the north side of highway 74, it was like a bomb went off. It was pretty bad,” Sanchez said.

While he isn’t staying overnight at the shelter, he still picked up food and water from the center. He says the fire has had not just an emotional toll, but a financial one since his family decided to stay in a hotel with their pets.

The Red Cross says they’ll operate the evacuate center as long as it’s needed by the community.

The full list of evacuation sites include:

Desert Community Center, 43900 San Pablo Ave., Palm Desert

Anza Community Center, 56630 Highway 371, Anza

Animal evacuations at San Jacinto Animal Shelter, 581 S. Grand Ave., San Jacinto

Animal evacuations at Coachella Valley Animal Campus, 72050 Pet Land Place, Thousand Palms

Tonight, News Channel 3 gives a look inside the Palm Desert site and the need of those displaced.

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