Source:  San Diego County Sheriff

September 23, 2025 (Spring Valley) - Two juveniles have been arrested on suspicion of bringing a replica firearm (BB gun) to an East County magnet school. 

Update: Forward progress has been halted. The fire has been mapped at 75 acres and evacuation orders have been lifted, Watch Duty App reports.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo, right by Henri Migala

September 5, 2025 (Spring Valley ) -- Level 3 "go now" evacuations have been ordered in zone SDC-2153 in Spring Valley due to the fast-moving #LodgeFire, which started near Jamacha Blvd. and Double Tree Road a short time ago.  View the Genasys evacuation map.

The brush fire has charred 30 aces and has potential to burn 200-300 acres, per Cal Fire. Aircraft includng fixed-wing plane and helicopters are battling the blaze along with ground crews; Cal Fire asked people to avoid the area. Two large air tankers have been requested.

Update 3:20 p.m.-- Evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted; forward spread has been stopped.

Update 1:30 p.m.-- The fire has been mapped at 88 acres and is now 5% contained. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place.

East County WIldfire and Emergency Alerts

August 8, 2025 -- There is immediate structure threat from the #RoadrunnerFire, a brush fire that began at Roadrunner Lane and Ribbonwood Road. The fire has burned 25 acres and has zero containment.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has issued Evacuation Orders and Warnings for nearby areas, all north of I-8 as of 12:55 p.m.  For an interactive map with updated emergency evacuation information visit: OES Emergency Map

The temporary evacuation point is located at : Golden Acorn Casino (1800 Golden Acorn Way, Campo 91906).

An Evacuation Order requires immediate movement out of the affected area due to an imminent threat to life.

East County News Service

August 6, 2025 (Jamul) – A 25-year-old woman from Descanso who was not wearing a seatbelt overturned down an embankment off State Route 94 east of Otay Lakes Road at 6:15 this morning.  She was ejected from the vehicle, a 2010 Hyundai Elantra, and became trapped underneath it.

By Paul Levikow

Image, left: rendering of future Fire State 18

July 17, 2025 (Crest) – San Miguel Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Tobin Riley appeared before the Crest Community Association Thursday to provide an update on construction of Fire Station 18 on the corner of Suncrest Boulevard and North Lane. The update was provided after Facebook posts by concerned residents wondered why the lot has been sitting empty for so long.

“Perception is reality, people drive by, they see the dirt lot not moving and they have the right to ask questions,” Riley said. “The station is being built in phases.”

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update July 11, 2025 8:30 a.m.-- The Springs Fire has been held to 50 acres and is now 20% contained, per Cal Fire. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place. Cause of the Springs Fire was a vehicle with a malfunctioning catalytic converter, per Cal Fire.

July 10, 2025 (Jamul) -- Three small brush fires being called the #SpringsFire are burning near Lyons Valley Road and Honey Springs Road in the Lawson Valley area of Jamul. Th wildfire has burned 49.9 acres and is 10% contained. Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued.

View a map with updated evacuation areas at the Genasys Protect site.

A temporary evacuation site is at Regal Edwards Cinemas, 2951 Jamacha Road, El Cajon

The fire is under unified command with Cal Fire and Cleveland National Forest.

Forward spread on one of the fires has been halted, but the other two have merged,per Cal Fire.

By Karen Pearlman

..."I have never seen such a destructive project with such negative impacts on the people who live in a community." -- former Supervisor Dianne Jacob, a Jamul resident (photo, left)

July 9, 2025 (San Diego) – The Cottonwood Sand Mine is a wash, at least for now.

After nearly six hours of testimony, presentations and discussion, the San Diego County Planning Commission on Wednesday voted to disapprove a permit for the planned private sand mining operation in Rancho San Diego.

East County News Service

July 5, 2025 (Spring Valley) -- San Diego County Animal Services has identified the person responsible for the horrific July 2 incident in Spring Valley in which a dog was dragged behind a vehicle. 

After seeing video coverage of the incident on television, the dog’s owner contacted County Animal Services and admitted that it was his truck and his dog involved. Animal Control Officers confirmed that he was indeed the individual seen driving the truck in the video.

Tragically, due to the extent of the dog’s injuries, the animal had already been euthanized by a veterinary clinic prior to officers’ arrival. Animal Services was able to intercept the dog’s remains before cremation to preserve evidence for the investigation.

By Miriam Raftery

Image:  Lands proposed for sale in Rep. Darrell Issa's district

June 18, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Senate Republicans have slipped language into the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” budget reconciliation measure that would allow sale of up to 250 million acres of federal public lands in 11 states including California. 

The Wilderness Society calls this a “disturbing giveaway that sets an extremely dangerous precedent.”

A map of lands to be sold includes much of Cleveland National Forest in San Diego’s East County, as well as portions of Mt. Laguna and Pine Valley, plus large tracts of U.S. Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands in northeast county, desert areas near Anza Borrego Desert State Park, and even some coastal locations.

Over 16 million acres are proposed for sale in California, including Big Sur, an iconic and picturesque section of California’s coastline.

Find links to contact your Congressional members and Senators at the bottom of this article.