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If there’s someone who knows and loves fixing cars, it’s Ciro Cornejo, also known as “Junior.”

“I wanted to become a mechanic because of the Fast and the Furious movie,” said Cornejo.

In addition to fixing engines, transmissions, and other key vehicle components, Junior emphasizes that battery repairs are critical, especially for lithium-ion batteries, which are widely used in electric vehicles.

Cornejo sees a troubling difference between lithium batteries and standard ones.

“Everybody is used to these…everyone knows what to do when something like this goes wrong, normally it’s just a dead battery…corrosion happens, very minor gas,” said Cornejo.

“Now, when you get to the lithium here, this is a little bit more complicated.”

“They’re a lot more dangerous. When they get overheated from overcharging, a lot of times they can just bust, and they just catch on fire.”

A recent fire was reported at the Audi dealership in Santa Clarita, prompting a response from the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s hazardous materials team after reports that an electric car had caught fire.

“There’s no real way to put them out, because it releases very toxic gas,” said Cornejo.

Cornejo warns that drivers of electric vehicles should take steps to ensure safety and remain cautious.

“The first thing you do, obviously, in any fire, you want to get away as soon as possible. But with this, you need to get out of there quickly, in and out as soon as you can, away from it,” said Cornejo.

According to Gallagher Bassett, there were over 25,000 lithium battery-related fire incidents in the U.S. from 2017 to 2022.

Cornejo believes we’ll see more vehicles on the road carrying lithium-ion batteries, but says they haven’t yet pinpointed exactly how to make it perfect.

In February, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife added six distinct mountain lion populations to the protected list under the California Endangered Species Act, but in a close encounter, instinct can take over.

“In all honesty…I feel like for me, my dog comes before everything else…I feel like I’ll do everything to protect her…even putting my own self in harm, my own self in harm’s way because she’s like, she’s part of the family,” said Samaneh Nawaz, a local hiker.

“She’s my daughter.”

It’s a decision that goes beyond the trail…even at a local shooting range.

Hiking outdoors, up in the mountains, I am spending time on their turf. I wouldn’t have a problem carrying a weapon, and I wouldn’t have a problem using it in the defense of myself or someone else who might be threatened by wildlife,” said Adam Edelstein, a resident of the area and recreational shooter.

Wildlife experts say encounters with mountain lions are rare…and knowing how to respond can make all the difference.

“A lot of people ask me about encounters. We’re developing more in the Santa Clarita Valley. We are dispersing these animals into the environment, looking for new wild habitat,” said Ranger Frank Hoffman, Placerita Canyon Nature Center Park Supervisor and Educational Director.

If you come across a mountain lion, what you do next matters.

“Just know what to do and what not to do. Do not run from a mountain lion…make yourself appear as big as possible…make a lot of loud noise. Scare that cat…make sure that he knows you’re the boss there. Keep your dogs in at night…anything that might be a potential prey source.”

Ranger Frank says in 30 years, he’s never seen a mountain lion in the wild…but his cameras have captured them, both with tracking collars and without.