Photo: Red areas are under mandatory evacuation orders as of 5 p.m. Yellow areas have evacuation warnings. View interactive map here for latest evacuation updates. This is the county's map which has more details than others.
Update 6:44 p.m.-- Fire size: The fire is 340 acres and 10% contained, per Cal Fire.
Update 6:18 p.m. Road closures: Due to the #MonteFire, the following roads are closed to thru traffic and open to residents only: • Lake Jennings Rd & El Monte Rd • El Monte Rd @ Omas Rd • Willow Rd @ Omas Rd, per CHP.
Update 5:19 p.m. -- Animal evacuation:Large animals can be evacuated to Dianne Jacob Equestrian Park, 11055 Moreno Ave, Lakeside. Small animals can be evacuated to Humane Society shelter at 5821 Sweetwater Rd, Bonita.
Update 4:34 p.m.- The fire is now 312 acres, per Cal Fire with zero percent containment.
June 17, 2025 (Lakeside) -- Evacuations have been ordered in the fast-moving #MonteFire in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley. The fire began at 15900 El Monte Rd. near El Monte Park and the San Diego River. Cal Fire says the fire has potential for extended attack.
El Monte Rd. is closed at Yucca Rd.
A very large air tanker has been ordered, per scanner traffic.
A temporary evacuation point has been set up at the Walmart Supercenter, 13487 Camino Canada, El Cajon per Genasys. .
Veterans have a friend in Campo: his name is Kevin Martin, and he’s a Vietnam-era Marine veteran himself.
Thanks to Martin and a group of volunteers, along with a grant from San Diego County, vets in Campo will soon have a new place to hang out. VFW Post 2080 is moving from its old dilapidated building to freshly renovated quarters down the block on Sheridan Road, at the edge of Camp Lockett. Martin was recently elected commander of the post.
“These veterans, they fight for us, our families, our rights, and then they get home and get treated like crap. I’m not letting that happen on my watch,” Martin said.
Update 7:55 p.m.-- Cal Fire reports the #Border6Fire in Campo is now 200 acres burning on the south side of the U.S./Mexico border. "We remain engaged on the northern edge of the fire as firefighters from Mexico support suppression efforts in Mexico," Cal Fire posted on X.
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
Photo via Cal Fire
June 16, 2025 (Campo) -- The #Border6 fire is burning in vegetation along the U.S./Mexico border, just west of Forrest Gate Road.
Update 5:26 p.m.-- Evacuation warnings have been lifted. The fire is now 20 acres and 10% contained, Cal Fire reports. Evacuation orders remain in place.
Update 4:29 p.m.-- Forward spread of the #MissionFire has been stopped, per Cal Fire.
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alert Service
June 16, 2025 (Bonsall) -- The #MissionFire is burning near South Mission Rd. and La Canada Rd. in Bonsall. According to the San Diego County Sheriff, an evacuation order is in place for areas shade in red shown on the evacuation map at this link. This means everyone in the area should leave immediately. Areas in yellow are under evacuation warnings.
The temporary evacuation point is at Bonsall Elementary School per Genasys.
June 16, 2025 (San Diego) – Federal immigration officials have begun arresting immigrants and refugees at San Diego’s federal courthouse, denying them due process at hearings that could have granted them legal status in the U.S. Now, Bishop Michael Pham and two local auxiliary bishops have announced that on World Refugee Day June 20, they will stand in solidarity with migrants making court appearances. They are also calling on all diocese parishes to join them and celebrate a mass devoted to immigrants.
Pham, who came to America as a refugee from Vietnam at age 8, understands the hardships that refugees and migrants face. His family fled Da Nang to Malaysia, then escaped on a rice barge with no food or water, huddled among dead bodies before finding freedom. He is the first bishop appointed by Pope Leo IV, who has voiced strong support for refugees and immigrants.
Photos,left: Aerial image of No Kings rally downtown, courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News, and protestor in El Cajon, photo by Miriam Raftery.
June 15, 2025 (San Diego) – At least 60,000 people participated in “No Kings” protests in downtown San Diego, according to the San Diego Police department. Local organizers estimate even more, around 80,000. Times of San Diego has a time-lapse video of San Diego's march.
In addition, thousands more protested at No Kings events in other local communities, including East County, with around 1,000 in El Cajon and several hundred in Ramona. Photos posted on social media show numerous other rallies with hundreds or more at each.
Laura Castañeda (left) had been deputy opinion editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune until Thursday. (Times of San Diego photo illustration)
By Ken Stone • Times of San Diego
June 13, 2025 (San Diego) -- A fired San Diego Union-Tribune opinion editor is accusing the paper’s owners of “censorship at its best” after she was let go at the same time an editorial was blocked from running.
Laura Castañeda on Friday announced her layoff on social media, tweeting: “On the same day a team editorial at @sdutOpinion on the ICE protests was pulled, my position as deputy editor was suddenly eliminated.”
Castañeda told Times of San Diego that Frank Pine, executive editor of the Southern California News Group, informed her Thursday evening that her position was eliminated.
June 13, 2025 (Rancho San Diego) – Technical difficulties with audiovisual needs postponed the San Diego County Planning Commission meeting today, delaying for at least a month an agenda item about a controversial sand mine being planned for East County.
The 9 a.m. meeting at the county’s Operations Center on Overland Avenue had three items on the agenda, including the sand mine proposed for part of the Cottonwood Golf Course in Rancho San Diego.
The County’s Planning & Development Services department, which analyzed the project with plans, zoning ordinances and other regulations, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), is recommending denial of the project.
The group wrote in a report that they found the project “to have a harmful effect on desirable neighborhood character and that the site would not be suitable for the proposed type of development.”
Update: The CA Court of Appeals has stayed Judge Breyer's order pending the outcome of a hearing Tuesday at the appellate court by a 3-judge panel that includes two Trump-appointed judges and one Biden appointee.
By Miriam Raftery
June 12, 2025 (Oakland, CA) – In a blistering decision, U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer today ordered control of California’s National Guard be returned to the Governor, though the Judge stayed his order until tomorrow afternoon to allow the Trump administration time to file for an emergency appeal.
The judge’s order states that in ordering thousands of California National Guard members to Los Angeles amid civil unrest over mass immigration enforcement, President Donald Trump’s actions were “illegal—both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
Judge Breyer rejected an argument by a Trump administration lawyer, who had claimed courts do not have authority to review a president’s decision on whether the National Guard was needed.
“That’s the difference between a constitutional government and King George,” stated Judge Breyer, a Clinton appointee and brother of former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
June 12, 2025 (Santee) -- The largest residential project in Santee’s history, Fanita Ranch, was granted approval by the City Council, in a 3 -1 vote June 11 with Vice Mayor Rob McNelis recusing himself.
It was the third time in five years the Santee City Council gave its approval to the project that will add 2,949 houses to some 2,600 acres of open space in the city’s northwest quadrant. Santee was challenged legally by a coalition of environmental groups twice before, including last year on the basis that the language in the city’s environmental impact report (EIR) was deficient.
Santee’s interim City Manager Gary Halbert said those deficiencies were corrected and contained in a revised EIR that was approved. The city will provide those changes to the same Superior Court judge, Katherine Bacal, to get her approval. Should she agree the changes are legal, developer HomeFed Rancho Fanita can proceed with construction, Halbert said.
June 12, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- “They’ve defied our courts, deported Americans, disappeared people off the streets, attacked our civil rights, and slashed our services. The corruption has gone too. far. No thrones. No crowns. No kings,” states the website No Kings, which is organizing protests nationwide on Saturday, June 14. The demonstrations are expected to draw millions of participants nationwide and locally, thousands.
San Diego County has 11 “peaceful” protests planned. View map. and click each location for details; times of rallies vary The local protests are slated to be held in Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Del Mar, El Cajon, Escondido, Mira Mesa, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo, San Marcos, and two in downtown San Diego including Civic Center Plaza and Waterfront Park.
UFCW Local 135 grocery store workers have authorized an unfair labor practice strike. (Photo courtesy of UFCW Local 135)
By Elizabeth Ireland, Times of San Diego
Updated with statements from Albertsons and Ralphs
June 12, 2025 (San Diego County) -- More than 90 percent of voting United Food and Commercial Workers Local 135 members at Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions stores across San Diego County have authorized a strike if necessary, according to the union.
The vote, held June 8–11, comes amid ongoing contract negotiations between the union and grocery store parent companies Kroger and Albertsons.
The union, which represents more than 13,000 workers throughout San Diego and Imperial Counties, accuses the companies of unfair labor practices, including “surveillance, intimidation and retaliation,” during the months-long bargaining process.
“This strike authorization is not just a vote — it’s a mandate,” said Local 135 President Todd Walters. “We will not be pushed around or silenced. This vote shows that we are strong, united, and ready to do whatever it takes to win the fair contract you deserve.”
June 12, 2025 (Los Angeles) – In a shocking action, California’s U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly dragged out of a press conference in Los Angeles today, thrown on the ground and handcuffed while trying to ask a question of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Video shows he clearly identified himself, stating "I am Senator Alex Padilla" before being manhandled by federal agents.
A statement from Senator Padilla’s office indicates the Senator “is currently in Los Angeles exercising his duty to perform Congressional oversight of the federal government’s operations in Los Angeles and across California,” a reference to immigration enforcement that has led to protests in L.A. and President Donald Trump calling in the National Guard and U.S. Marines.
June 11, 2025 (El Cajon) – He spent more than 50 years helping close to 10,000 stranded motorists along all stretches of freeways across San Diego County, and now Thomas Weller could use some assistance of his own.
While health issues forced him off the road in 2017, Weller (photo left, Weller in front of his El Cajon home) still goes by the name “San Diego Highwayman” for his decades of service changing tires, replacing batteries, filling up empty gas tanks, standing watch over drivers and passengers in need – all at no charge.
The calling card he always handed out to those whom he helped reads: “Assisting you has been my pleasure. I ask for no payment other than for you to pass on the favor by helping someone in distress that you may encounter.”
Photo by Karen Pearlman: wild birds at the Lake Murray reservoir
June 11, 2025 (San Diego) – The future of continued daily access to Lake Murray is looking a little brighter today.
With a 7-2 vote, the San Diego City Council on Tuesday approved a 2025-26 budget that preserves activities at Lake Murray and other city-operated reservoirs and lakes, avoiding many previously threatened cuts to hours and days of operation.
The action came after Friends of San Diego Lakes submitted a petition with more than 8,500 signatures of residents opposed to a proposal to close the popular lake on weekdays.
There will also be no cuts to recreation center hours or park restrooms, and while city libraries will remain closed on Sundays, the budget reversed proposed Monday closures for 16 branches.
It remains to be seen whether Mayor Todd Gloria will sign or veto the revised budget.
Photo, front row: Zahra Nuristani and Maggie Kelly, student board members stepping down, and Sage Larson, one of two new student board members
At the June 6 meeting, Grossmont Union High School District’s governing board rejected an ethnic studies program prepared by teachers, announced AI and technology updates, shared a video from the new superintendent, and welcomed new student board members.
In addition, an organizer of efforts to recall four trustees announced progress on the recall campaign.
June 10, 2025 (Escondido) — The San Diego County Farm Bureau is bringing back Farming Tour Day, starting at 9 a.m., Saturday June 28.
This year’s event offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at a diverse array of local farms in Escondido, showcasing the heart of San Diego agriculture.
Participants will enjoy guided walking tours led by the farmers themselves, sharing their expertise and passion for growing everything from mushrooms, succulents and cacti to citrus and avocados.
Each farm offers a unique perspective on local agriculture and innovative growing practices. Farm Tour Day is family-friendly and self-driven — bring your group, follow our detailed tour map, and explore at your own pace.
June 10, 2025 (La Mesa) – Leaving behind a legacy of service, prolific leadership and unwavering commitment to civic matters, longtime La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid has passed away at age 90.
His leadership shaped the city, earning admiration and respect from residents, businesses and civic leaders around the region and across the country.
He passed away in his home in La Mesa on Friday, June 6, according to his daughter, Lisa Madrid.
Madrid was elected to public office in La Mesa six times, including two terms as a City Council member from 1981-1990 and four terms as mayor, leading the city from 1991-2014, including during the city's centennial celebration in 2012. He previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including a stint in Korea, then spent 35 years working for Pacific Bell before entering politics.
An infill condo project for 52 units is coming to Santee
Photo and story by Mike Allen
June 9, 2025 (Santee) -- The Santee City Council unanimously approved another infill condominium project recently, this one for 52 units on the site that once housed the PureFlo Water dispensary, and had previously been approved for low-income apartments.
The site is adjacent to Laurel Heights, an 80-unit single family housing project that was approved about four years ago.
The latest project had been planned as a 96-unit apartment complex in 2022, but developer Michael Grant apparently pulled out, allowing KB Homes, one of the nation’s largest home builders, to step in and continue its activity in Santee.
This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters.
By Jeanne Kuang
June 9, 2025 (San Diego County) -- The union leader federal agents detained at an immigration protest in Los Angeles last week is well known to California’s Democratic leadership from his years of activism in and out of the Capitol.
That’s one reason so many leading Democrats jumped to his defense.
David Huerta, the 58-year-old president of a statewide janitors union and of the Service Employees International Union California, was arrested by federal agents Friday outside a Los Angeles garment warehouse where protesters gathered to watch and oppose an apparent workplace immigration raid.
The denouncements poured in quickly after that.
“David Huerta is a respected leader, a patriot, and an advocate for working people,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “No one should ever be harmed for witnessing government action.”
June 9, 2025 (San Diego County) -- California-based August Egg Company in Hilmar is recalling 1.7 million eggs tied to a multi-state outbreak of salmonella, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA said brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs were distributed by the August Egg Co. in Merced County were distributed from Feb. 3 to May 15 to retailers in nine states, including California, with best-by dates ranging from March 4 to June 19.
The eggs were distributed under more than two dozen brand names and distributed to stores that include Walmart, Safeway, Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs.
The recalled products are brown cage-free and brown certified organic eggs from August Egg Co., with plant codes: P-6562 or CA5330.
From left to right: Mairene Branham, Violeta Lombrera and Eva Pacheco. (Photo by Mimi Pollack)
By Mimi Pollack
June 8, 2025 (El Cajon) -- Latinos en Acción, a group in El Cajon, is led by three mothers who want to make a difference in their diverse community.
These three very different women came together with the same goals in mind: to make the people of El Cajon more aware of what is going on.
They do this in part by holding rallies where they condemn U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids -- especially those targeting elders -- demand an end to El Cajon Police and ICE cooperation, call out racist visa revocations that target Afghan families and hold city officials accountable.
They want to defend immigrants’ rights and dignity.
Controversial Headline Performer, Safety Concerns Cited as Reasons for Withdrawal
By Karen Pearlman
June 7, 2025 (San Diego) – Many local Jewish organizations from across San Diego County that have traditionally been part of the annual San Diego Pride event will not be joining in this year.
Jewish community leaders say that because the Pride Festival chose musical artist Kehlani to be a headliner at the annual July festival, there will be no official, organized Jewish presence there.
According to a media release shared last week from the Jewish Federation of San Diego, the groups and synagogues that will not be participating in San Diego Pride include the Federation, ADL-San Diego, Lawrence Family JCC, Temple Emanu-El of San Diego, Congregation Dor Hadash, Congregation Beth Israel of San Diego, Congregation Tifereth Israel Synagogue and Temple Adat Shalom of Poway.
It also includes the festival’s current volunteer director of medical operations and assistant director of medical operations, Dr. Jennifer Anger and Eliyahu Cohen-Mizrahi. Both individuals are Jewish and have also stepped away from their roles with Pride.
Artistic rendering of coming changes to Campo Road (Courtesy County of San Diego)
By Karen Pearlman
June 7, 2025 (Casa de Oro) – The County of San Diego is moving into the next phase of the ambitious Campo Road Corridor Revitalization Specific Plan, aimed at transforming the Campo Road corridor into a safer, more walkable and vibrant community hub.
Backed by a multi-million-dollar grant awarded early this year, county personnel along with input from stakeholders continue to focus on detailed design and engineering for public infrastructure improvements including a more walkable environment, improved safety and connections for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers, said Audrey Hamilton, project manager with the County Department of Public Works, who led a June 4 Zoom meeting on the latest news for the area.
The coming work is expected to bring new life to portions of Campo Road and surrounding streets in the unincorporated area between Spring Valley and La Mesa.
There’s been more than a decade of discussion and years of tentative plans for revitalizing the main commercial strip and adjacent residential area along Campo Road in Casa de Oro.
In Harm’s Way: Book One of The Sea Hawkes Chronicles by Thomas M. Wing
Reviewed by Pennell Paugh
June 7, 2025 (San Diego) -- San Diego resident Thomas M. Wing has released his second novel In Harm's Way, an action-packed historical story set during America’s War of Independence.
Wing says he based his story on actual naval battles.
The details Wing provides about those times are interesting and compelling. The main character, Captain Jonas Hawke, returns home to Norfolk after several months of trading in the Indies and the Caribbean.
June 7, 2025 (La Mesa) — The La Mesa Juneteenth Foundation is inviting families and community members to a Pancake Breakfast Celebration later this month.
The celebration, in partnership with Mission Federal Credit Union, is set for 9 a.m. until noon, Thursday, June 19, at MacArthur Park in La Mesa.
There is a $5 donation suggested for those interested in partaking of the event, which includes not just a pancake breakfast but also kids activities like games and a bounce house, as well as a raffle.
It also will include a financial literacy angle, celebrating the launch of “Start From Zero,” a brand-new program designed for youth and families in La Mesa, Spring Valley and Lemon Grove.
June 6, 2025 (La Mesa) — Heartland Firefighters of La Mesa will host a pancake breakfast fundraiser and emergency preparedness training on Sunday, June 8, at La Mesa Fire Station 11.
The event, which will run from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 8034 Allison Ave., is open to all ages. Tickets are $5 and include pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice.
Proceeds will benefit the Heartland Fire Explorer Program.
Latest scam concerns traffic court fees, previous scams have concerned jury duty or warrants
East County News Service
June 6, 2025 (San Diego County) – The San Diego Superior Court is warning the public about new scams that are making the rounds around the county.
The court has received complaints about individuals trying to scam members of the public by pretending to be court officers or officials.
In a recent example, individuals have received text messages stating that there are overdue Traffic Court fees in their name and if they do not pay the fees in a certain manner, additional action will be taken.
June 6, 2025 (Spring Valley) -- Mt Miguel High School Foundation, the nonprofit organization devoted to helping Mount Miguel High School, is hosting Quartermania this month.
Quartermania is a cross between an auction and bingo.
The event, set from 1 to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, June 21, will be held at the Mount Miguel High School Multi-Cultural Event Center, 8585 Blossom Lane in Spring Valley.
The cost of admission is $25, and all proceeds will go toward Mount Miguel High School Special Projects.
The event will feature Preview shopping at 1 p.m., and a Quarter Auction from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Drinks and snacks will be available.
A spokesperson from the group said that possible vendors may include Perfectly Posh, Party Lite, Tastefully Simple, Tupperware, Handmade items by Carmen and Simply Scarves.
Story and photos by: Josh Stotler
Laura Castañeda (left) had been deputy opinion editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune until Thursday. (Times of San Diego photo illustration)
By Karen Pearlman
Update: The CA Court of Appeals has stayed Judge Breyer's order pending the outcome of a hearing Tuesday at the appellate court by a 3-judge panel that includes two Trump-appointed judges and one Biden appointee.
By Mike Allen
UFCW Local 135 grocery store workers have authorized an unfair labor practice strike. (Photo courtesy of UFCW Local 135)
By Alexander J Schorr
Explore San Diego Agriculture with Local Farmers 
This story was originally published by 
From left to right: Mairene Branham, Violeta Lombrera and Eva Pacheco. (Photo by Mimi Pollack)
By Karen Pearlman
Artistic rendering of coming changes to Campo Road (Courtesy County of San Diego)
In Harm’s Way: Book One of The Sea Hawkes Chronicles by Thomas M. Wing
East County News Sevice
East County News Service
Latest scam concerns traffic court fees, previous scams have concerned jury duty or warrants
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