FROM THE CHIEF: Firefighters do more than...

FROM THE CHIEF: Firefighters do more than just put out fires, a dozen chiefs on hand at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting could tell you. The supervisors were thanking all the county’s fire agencies for their efforts in last fall’s firestorms. . . . Clinton Arnett, vice president of the Orange County Fire Chiefs Assn., told the board: “One of our main jobs is prevention, not just reaction. Until we can convince all the residents of the danger of fire, we will always run the risk of fire.”

LEISURE TALK: Two fires in the last three years at the Seal Beach Pier have left the city with a $200,000 bill. Mayor George Brown has his own technique for trying to whittle that down. He’s seeking pier donations on his own from corporations--and from his neighbors in Leisure World. . . . He passes the hat each time he speaks before one of the retirement community clubs and has already collected $500. Says Brown: “I wish I had more clubs to talk with.”

KANG SALMON: If you’re watching the two-hour Morning News on KTLA (Channel 5) today, it could make you hungry. Michael Kang, owner of Five Feet Restaurant in Laguna Beach, will be fixing the news anchors an on-air breakfast of poached salmon with his own “strawberry black pepper relish.” . . . The show is touting Kang’s talents because he recently won regional competition for Gourmet magazine’s Healthy Menu Award. His dish for the Gourmet judges: “Salmon fuji with confetti.” Explains the chef: “Salmon is very versatile.”

MICKEY WHO? Famous as he is, Mickey Mouse may not be the greatest Mickey of all. On Saturday, Mickey Mouse meets Mickey Mantle. . . . Most people go to Disneyland with their wallets a little fatter than usual. But if you’d like a souvenir from the baseball legend, you might want to stop at the bank on your way. Mantle will autograph jerseys to sell for $700, caps for $405, and bats for $1,750. You can wave to him in the parade for free.