BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Fire engine, back-up sent to wild fires

Costa Mesa and Newport Beach fire departments both sent firefighters to scrubland fires raging in Southern California this week.

The Newport Beach Fire Department sent one engine and a battalion chief to the Horse fire in San Diego Monday, fire officials said.

Costa Mesa firefighters were also sent there, including a Costa Mesa Fire Captain, who was charged with flying a helicopter to dump water on the blaze, fire officials said. One fire engineer was sent to the Oak fire in Riverside County.

As of late Wednesday, local firefighters remained on scene at the wildfires.

Bees shut Sky Ride at O.C. fair

The Sky Ride at the Orange County Fair was shut down for nearly an hour while a bee exterminator vacuumed the pests out of a nearby tree Wednesday afternoon.

The small swarm of bees was spotted about 2 p.m. about seven feet below the ride, said fair spokeswoman Pam Highwart.

No one was stung, Highwart said, adding that it’s not unusual for this to happen at the fair.