Santa Maria Elks Honor Firefighters at Annual Appreciation Night

A Santa Barbara County fire captain and a Santa Maria city aircraft rescue firefighter were among the six honorees Wednesday night during a special annual dinner hosted for four decades. The Santa Marie Elks hosted the annual Firefighter Appreciation Night, where honorees from several agencies shared the spotlight, something they typically avoid, one chief noted.

California flood sweeps cabins, cars down coastal canyon

More than 20 people escaped injury when a flood swept cabins and vehicles down a coastal canyon as the second in a trio of storms drenched California with heavy rain and brought more snow to the mountains. The dramatic scene about 115 miles northwest of Los Angeles came during a day of pounding rain in Southern California that caused flooding, rockslides and an avalanche warning.