PUBLIC SAFETY Costa Mesa Fire’s truckload of...

PUBLIC SAFETY

Costa Mesa Fire’s truckload of help

Costa Mesa firefighters trucked down their biggest piece of

equipment -- an urban search and rescue truck -- to show Laguna Beach

firefighters how they could help in an emergency.

The Costa Mesa squad, which is specially trained in confined-space

search and rescue, didn’t respond to the June 1 landslide. But with

salvage efforts and geological testing, a rescue situation may come

up, firefighters said.

The giant truck, custom made by a beverage-truck manufacturer,

could provide much-needed help and equipment, including an air bag

capable of lifting 72 tons of rubble.

* A spate of shark attacks in Florida may have some people afraid

to set foot in the water, but a close encounter with a shark isn’t

likely here.

In fact, the chances are much greater that you’ll get into an

accident driving or walking to the beach, a shark expert said. But

it’s best to remember that the ocean is where sharks live and that

any water activity brings with it a small risk of swimming with

sharks.