(A Natural emergency)….It is in the North County. About five miles North of Niland.

County Fire Chief Estrada says a geyser that has been around since the 1950’s has recently become more active. It is destabilizing the soil in the area and coming very close to encroaching on Union Pacific Railroad and other infrastructure in the area. This week the County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency. This was to make it easier to obtain services and funds to stabilize the situation. The Chief says the geyser has created a hole 200 feet wide and about 30 to 40 feet deep. The Railroad has taken the lead in the situation and is pumping water from the hole. Estrada says they plan to contract to have holes dug around the geyser in order to divert the water. The Chief said the solutions are temporary. Geologists have said the situation is a natural development and the problem will be on-going.

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