STORIES FROM THE PAST
50 years ago
CALIPATRIA — Fire engulfed a vacant hotel here this morning and at 10:30 a.m. today was raging out of control, threatening several adjacent buildings in the downtown area.
The Royal Hotel, located at the northeast corner of Sorensen and Main streets, was the seat of the fire.
Early reports indicated the wood-framed rear of the hotel had been destroyed and that flames had reached the two-story hotel proper with flames leaping as high as 50 feet above the structure.
Brawley Fire Department dispatched a county rig to aid the Calipatria department.
The hotel was in the process of being remodeled, according to one report. It was not known immediately if work was in process today.
Immediately adjacent to the hotel and threatened were a clothing store and next to it an appliance store. Both were in use at the time of the fire.
40 years ago
Chevron Resources Co. has agreed to supply geothermal energy to Southern California Edison Co. for a 50 megawatt geothermal plant near Heber.
The contract between Chevron and Edison opens the door for development of the second geothermal plant proposed for the Heber anomaly.
San Diego Gas & Electric Co. has plans to develop a 45 megawatt geothermal plant near Heber by 1980. However, that project has been slowed because of funding problems.
The Edison plant is also scheduled to go into operation in late 1982.
But County Planning Director Richard Mitchell said the utility has not yet requested permits to begin development of the plant.
He said he expects to meet with Edison and Chevron officials this week to begin the permit process.
Edison is planning another geothermal plant to use geothermal fluids drawn from the anomaly north of Brawley that is being developed by Union Oil Co. It also has interests in a plant near Niland.
Edison’s Heber plant is planned to use a flash process, where the hot water is brought to the surface and the steam is flashed, or separated off. The steam is then used to operate the turbines.
The water will then be re-injected into the ground for reheating and recycling.