East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update 5:40 p.m.  -- Forward rate of spread has been stopped at 2 acres with bo damage to any structure. Firefighters will no continue to put out hotspots and strengthen control lines. Cal Fire praises homeowners for having defensible space, which helped save their residences.

June 4, 2024 (Potrero, CA) -- The #RanchFire has burned two acres after starting this afternoon in the 1000 block of Harris Ranch Road in Potrero's Bell Valley.  The fire is burning at a moderate rate of spread and has potential for 40 acres, per Cal Fire.

Structures are threatened, but firefighters are making good progress, according to the incident commander.

East County News Service

June 3, 2024 (La Mesa) – La Mesa salutes Old Glory at the annual Flag Day Parade this Saturday. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and travels west through the La Mesa Village, along La Mesa Blvd. Former City Councilwoman Ruth Sterling will serve as Grand Marshal of the parade.

"Ruth's tireless dedication, from spearheading the parade's committee to establishing the Flag Day Parade endowment, exemplifies the essence of our celebration," the city's press release states.

Free ice cream will be provided by the La Mesa Community Relations and Veterans Commission at the Lookout in Legacy Park at the corner of La Mesa Blvd, 4th St. and Allison Ave.

By Miriam Raftery

June 3, 2024 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police have arrested Tony Sims, 42, a homeless parolee with multiple prior arrests for violence and drugs.  According to a press release from ECPD, Sims is accused of terrorizing and injuring an elderly woman during  a” “drug-induced crime spree” the night of May 29,  later stealing a knife and threatening a second person in a grocery store.

The suspect allegedly knocked on the room of the elderly woman, who was staying in a motel near Oakdale and Second Street.  “When she opened the door, the stranger forcedly entered her motel room. He grabbed the woman's arm and pushed her down to the ground, causing significant but non-life-threatening injuries,” says Lieutenant Keith MacArthur.  “Before leaving, he destroyed the room and the television.”

The suspect reportedly ran from the motel to a fast-food restaurant, where he jumped through the drive-through window into the restaurant. Lt. MacArthur adds, ”He stole a knife from the kitchen and armed himself with it before fleeing again to a grocery store nearby. Witnesses told police the man threatened another person with the knife while he was inside the store,” but officers were unable to locate that victim.

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch Full Video Here

May 30, 2024 (Lemon Grove) — On May 20, the Lemon Grove City Council heard from local resident Jason Sundberg, who filed an appeal to reconsider allowing a 70-foot cell tower disguised as a broadleaf tree that will include 12 panel antennas and nine remote radio units. The tower is proposed by AT&T at 6970 San Miguel Avenue on the Christian Church of Lemon Grove’s lot.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Miriam Raftery:  Left, Bill Walton at La Mesa's centennial in 2012; right, Walton at La Mesa Boys & Girls Club in 2014

May 27, 2024 (La Mesa)—NBA Hall of Famer and former Helix High School superstar  Bill Walton, 71, died this morning surrounded by his family after a prolonged battle with cancer. One of the greatest basketball players of all time, Walton later became an award-winning sportscaster. But he also won hearts and minds in the La Mesa community through his philanthropic efforts, including raising millions of dollars to build the Bill Walton Gymnasium at the Boys & Girls Club in La Mesa, where he was mentored in his youth.

NBA Commission Adam Silver issued a statement recalling Walton as “truly one of a kind. As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position. His unique all-around skills made him a dominant force at UCLA and led to an NBA regular-season and Finals MVP, two NBA championships and a spot on the NBA’s 50^th and 75^th Anniversary Teams.”  As a broadcaster, Walton overcame lifelong stuttering to deliver “insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans,” said Silver.

He added,  “What I will remember most about him was his zest for life.  He was a regular presence at league events—always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth.” Silver said that he envied Walton’s “boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.”

Born November 5, 1952,  Walton developed an early love for sports.  As a boy, he watched the San Diego Chargers play at Sunset Park near Lake Murray.  “I saw all those guys and I dreamed,” he said in a speech at a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club gymnasium that now bears his name.

By Alyssa Hiestand

May 26, 2024 (El Cajon) -- Just fifteen minutes from Downtown San Diego lies El Cajon, bustling with small businesses, delicious eateries, and more to make any day or night well-spent. Offering an insider perspective, here’s what we’d recommend doing for the ultimate day on Main Street in El Cajon:

By Miriam Raftery

May 24, 2024 (Alpine)—By a unanimous vote and without discussion, the Sweetwater Authority board of directors approved restoring the floating fishing dock at Loveland Reservoir in Alpine. Audience members applauded after the votes were cast.

The dock was severely damaged in a January 2023 storm, shortly after the reservoir was drained to dead pool status, an action which left the fishing float on dry land and which also killed off fish, much to the dismay of residents and visitors.

Russell Walsh, who has long advocated for restoration of floating fishing dock, said the vote reflects “a travesty being corrected by persistent citizens and hopefully increasingly willing Sweetwater Directors and upper management.”

By Mike Allen

Photos courtesy of Santee Fire Department

May 23, 2024 (Santee)-- A fire that sent large plumes of smoke across East County yesterday was caused when workers at the Advanced Water Purification (AWP) project in Santee were joining together two large pieces of plastic pipe.

Santee Fire Chief Justin Matsushita said while workers were fusing two large pipes that are 42 inches in diameter, the plastic material, called HDPE, caught fire and quickly overwhelmed the workers, prompting their 911 call.