By Miriam Raftery

November 26, 2018 (San Diego) -- The deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history is finally fully contained. The Camp Fire scorched over 153,000 acres and destroying 18,000 structures, including 14,000 homes. At least 85 people died and around 250 remain missing, though that’s far fewer than the over 1,000 listed as missing in the fire’s immediate aftermath.

New members to replace no-shows on fire board at Dec. 11 meeting

By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2018 (Julian) – A special election will be held in the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD) on March 19 for voters to decide whether to save the county’s last volunteer firefighting district. If over 50% of voters vote yes on the citizens’ initiative, it will reverse the county’s Local Agency Formation District vote that had approved dissolving the district and having the County Fire Authority/Cal Fire takeover all firefighting duties.

East County News Service

November 18, 2018 (Alpine) – Be prepared for power outages! The Alpine Library will host a forum for you to learn more about generators, solar battery backup and other residential emergency power options on Thursday, December 6 at 5:30 p.m.  

Tragedy raises questions on evacuation notifications, causes and potential utility liability; locally concerns rise over power outages and building in areas where a wildfire could cause  traffic gridlock and mass fatalities

By Miriam Raftery

November 16, 2018 (San Diego) – The Camp Fire’s grim toll has risen to 60 confirmed deaths while the list of missing has skyrocketed to 630 as authorities review 911 calls and other reports.  The Paradise Post has published a list of those missing in the state’s deadliest wildfire, which thus far has burned 142,000 acres. The Post has dropped bundles of its newspapers off at evacuation shelters, since delivery is impossible in a town where 90% of the buildings are now gone.

The blaze has destroyed 9,600 homes and 230 commercial buildings in Butte County, leveling the town of Paradise and also causing severe damage in several nearby communities north of Sacramento. The fire is now 45% contained.

But even those who survived without losing homes or businesses may suffer long term adverse health impacts due to air polluted by chemicals that have burned as the fire scorched through urban areas.   Air quality is rated hazardous across the Sacramento Valley and into San Francisco, where trolley car service has been temporarily halted due to the air pollution.

Meanwhile questions remain as to why so many were trapped and unable to escape. Most of those who perished were elderly and some who did get out report that they received no emergency warnings or evacuation notices. Authorities awaiting confirmation from fire officials reportedly got notices out too late for some residents closest to the monster wind-driven fire.

By Miriam Raftery

November 12, 2018 (San Diego) – The Camp Fire that turned Paradise, California into a scene out of hell has impacted family members of several local residents. A fundraiser to help the Camp Fire victims has been set up here:  https://www.facebook.com/donate/552862868514901/

East County News Service

November 12, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – SDG&E’s outages site reports power outages in multiple rural communities, some planned to prevent fires during high winds, others unplanned. Power is currently out in the vicinities of Alpine, Campo, Jacumba, Potrero, Jamul, Mount Laguna, Descanso, Cuyamaca and Pine Valley.

Here are some steps you should take to be prepared for outages and evacuations. If you have additional tips to share, please post them in our comments section:

By Julie Cart, CALmatters

CALmatters is an independent public interest journalism venture covering California state politics and government.

November 11, 2018 (San Diego) - With a quarter-million Californians evacuated from their homes and wildfires so far claiming nine lives, President Donal Trump today took to Twitter and inflamed tensions—blaming California for causing the fires by mismanaging its forests and threatening to cut off federal funds.

By Miriam Raftery

November 9, 2018 (Julian) – This week brought good news and bad news for Julian residents fighting to halt a county takeover of the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District and save the county’s last all-volunteer fire department.

A citizens’ protest petition seeking to reverse the vote by the Local Agency Formation Agency (LAFCO) to dissolve the fire district obtained enough signatures to qualify for a future ballot, the Registrar of Voters informed advocates this week.  That’s a tough hurdle, since the requirement is more than 50% of property owners in the district. 

“We did it! We are the only ones in the history of LAFCO to ever get this far!” Lori Foss, a supporter of the petition and survivor of the Cedar and Witch fires, stated in an email to East County Magazine on Election Day.

By Miriam Raftery

November 7, 2018 (Spring Valley) --- A trio of incumbents backed by the firefighters' union won reelection easily in the San Miguel Fire Protection District.

With 39% of districts counted, Theresa McKenna has 33.2%, Jim Ek 27.4%, and Michael Vaio 26.6%, defeating William A. Kiel II, son of board member William Kiel. The younger Kiel, a  trading card company owner with no fire experience, drew just 12.8% of the vote.

The stakes were high in the race, since the three incumbents who won reelection voted to return the district to independent operation, cancelling a contract with Cal Fire. The action passed by a slim one-vote margin, with Kiel, senior, voting against separating from Cal Fire.

East County News Service

November 3, 2018 (San Francisco) – “We want to hear from you about wildfires!” states a message from Agatha Wein at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).  “The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is examining how well California's electric utilities are prepared for wildfires and we want input from community leaders.”

SDG&E, PG&E, Southern California Edison, and several other utilities are required to develop wildfire mitigation plans that will include details on:

• wildfire prevention strategies for electric utilities,
• maintenance and inspection of lines,
• outreach to first responders and customers, including low-income, elderly, disabled, and those with limited English,
• restoration of service after a wildfire

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update November 1, 2018, 8 a.m. -- Cal Fire reports that there were six spot fires and forward spread is stopped on all of them.

Update 9:55 p.m.:  Two fires near El Capitan reservoir are burning; one south of the boat dock is "problematic" and incident commander has requested additional resources, per scanner traffic.

October 31, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Cal Fire is at the scene of the #PeutzFire that started near Peutz Valley Road in the Alpine area shortly before 9 p.m. reportedly about half an acre. 

Scanner traffic indicates crews have been battling multilpe small spot fires.

Crews had difficulty reaching flames near El Capitan reservoir due to a locked gate, Fox 5 reports.  Scanner traffic indicates the fire may be two acres.

Be vigilant and please report any suspicious activity to authorities.

Source: Heartland Fire & Rescue

Photo:  Steve Swaney, new Heartland Fire Chief

October 17, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) --The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove, which jointly manage Heartland Fire & Rescue, have selected Steve Swaney as the next Fire Chief.  The City Managers for the three cities (Graham Mitchell of El Cajon, Yvonne Garrett of La Mesa, and Lydia Romero of Lemon Grove) made the announcement that Swaney will begin serving in this capacity on October 20, 2018.  Chief Swaney replaces Colin Stowell, who recently was appointed Fire Chief for the City of San Diego.

Source: Santee Fire Department

October 16, 2018 (Santee) -- An original art work honoring the sacrifice of first responders on September 11,2001 will make Santee its home for the next three months.

The 3-by-4-foot oil painting portrays a New York firefighter with is head in his hands standing below a tattered American flag with the iconic wreckage of the Twin Towers in the background.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alert Service

October 13, 2018 (San Diego) – Santa Ana winds gusting into our region, along with falling humidty, have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for high fire danger from 3 a.m. Monday to 8 p.m. Tuesday.   

East County News Service 

Photo: Gate Fire started by target shooters in 2017 near Dulzura

October 11, 2018 (Dulzura) — By a 3-2 vote, San Diego County Supervisors approved an ordinance introduced by Dianne Jacob to ban recreational target shooting year-round on two portions of Bureau of Land Management property near Dulzura. The action aims to reduce wildfire risk following multiple blazes sparked by target shooting.  The ban does not apply to hunting of legal game.