July 25, 2023 (Ranchita) -- The #WilsonFire in Ranchita was ignited by a lightning strike around 4 p.m. today,  according to a witness, Miguel Estrema.  Cal Fire reports the fire has burned 2-3 acres at a slow rate of spread 2 miles south of Old Wilson Rd & Montezuma Valley Rd.

Multiple helicopters are making air drops on the fire, per Cal Fire.

East County News Service

July 27, 2023 (Lakeside) -- You're invited to come support first responders and help keep your community safe.  Lakeside Fire Dept. will host a pancake breakfast on Saturday,, August 26 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Fire Station 2, locaetd at 12216:Lakeside Avenue in Lakeside.

This event will include fire engines, face painting, a dunk tank, CPR lessons and more.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

July 16, 2023 (San Diego) -- Wildfires are increasing everyday and will increase as we start to peak in our year-round wildfire season. Even if your home is not in the path of a fire, you can still be affected by smoke particles released into the air from wildfires.

Story and Photos by Josh Stotler

July 9, 2023 (Potrero) -- At 2:49 p.m., firefighters were dispatched to 25850 Potrero Park Dr. for reports of a vegetation fire. Arriving units radioed that the fire was 3-5 acres in heavy fuel with a potential to spread to 50-100 acres. 

Additional resources were requested, bringing in more air support and ground crews to the scene. Structures were threatened and evacuation warnings were issued for grids 0852 and 0853, the Potrero valley.  Due to the unpredictable nature of the fire, the warnings were quickly upgraded to evacuation orders for those two grids.

Source:  Cal Fire

July 1, 2023 (Sacramento) - CAL FIRE is bolstering its firefighting aircraft fleet across California for the second year in a row as a result of over $72 million in funding provided by the administration of Governor Gavin Newsom. The investment has allowed CAL FIRE to secure 24 additional firefighting aircraft (19 helicopters and 5 airplanes for a contractual period of 90-120 days) to enhance their statewide response efforts against wildfires in California. The additional fixed-wing aircraft include 3 large airtankers specifically designed to carry up to 4,000 gallons of retardant. These aircraft have been strategically located in communities across California and will be pre-positioned to meet the needs of potential fire activity throughout the state.

 East County News Service

June 28, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – The Santee Fire Department and Lakeside Fire Protection District (FPD) assumed local control of ambulance services in their communities through formation of the Santee-Lakeside Emergency Medical Authority (SLEMSA) back on January 1.  As a result, on May 12, an additional ambulance was placed in service in Lakeside. This 12-hour Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance operates daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to assist with peak call volumes. Starting June 30, a  A second 12-hour BLS ambulance will go into service in Santee.

Story and Photos By: Josh Stotler

Photo, left:  A San Diego Helitack crew heads into the smoke to clear crush as the Proctor fire burns in the background.

June 24, 2023 (Jamul)-- Crews from CAL FIRE and Inmate fire crews are still on the scene at the #ProctorFire this evening, mopping up and dousing hot spots. All   road closures and evacuation orders have been lifted.

The  brush fire was reported off Proctor Valley Road around 5:23 pm. Units were dispatched to the scene and reported the blaze burning in medium vegetation with a medium rate of spread. Due to vegetation drying out and homes in the area, the fire was upgraded; more air and ground units were called in.

East County News Service

Photos by Shiloh Ireland

Photo, left:  Burned vehicle after it was removed from the ravine

June 23, 2023 (Lakeside) – A car plummeted off State Route 67 into a ravine, igniting dry brush, sparking the #Foster Fire this afternoon.

The blaze began at State Route 67 near Foster Trail and Slaughterhouse Canyon in Lakeside, according to Cal Fire.

ECM reporter Shiloh Ireland says the driver, conscious but injured, has been transported to a hospital.

Story and photos by Josh Stotler

Photo, left:SDG&E Helitanker 729 makes a water drop on the Wildcat fire as crews cut brush below.

Photo, right:Flames overtake vegetation and paintball barricades on the Barona reservation.

June 20, 2023 (Ramona) -- On a day that saw four vegetation fires in San Diego County, residents can rest assured that firefighters are ready and able to aggressively attack wildfires. 

At 4:06 p.m., calls came in to 911 dispatch reporting smoke in the area off Wildcat Canyon Road on the Barona reservation. Crews, most of which were coming off other fires, were sent to the area and confirmed a fire was making its way through the brush of a paintball park.

Crews set up quickly and were familiar with this exact area. Only two short months ago, this place was filled with firetrucks, hand crews and firefighting aircraft, not for a fire, but for the 2023 Multi-Agency Wildland  Preparedness Exercise—a three day real world simulation that played out nearly exact to the scenario fire crews faced today.

Story and photos by Josh Stotler

Photo, left: Crews battle the heat and smoke of the Murray fire Tuesday afternoon.

June 20, 2023 (El Cajon)-- A small vegetation fire was sparked off Interstate 8 near Murray Drive and Dennstedt Place in El Cajon this afternoon. While East County crews were battling two other wildland fires, calls came into Heartland Fire & Rescue’s dispatch just after 2:20 p.m. reporting a fire on the hill adjacent to Grossmont High School.

Engines were sent to the scene and Interstate 8 was closed to westbound traffic as crews battled the flames.

Update 2:50 p.m. --Forward spread has been stopped at 37 acres,  Cal Fire reports. One outburning burned. The fire is 10% contained.

June 20, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- An Evacuation Order has been issued northeast of the Manzanita and Los Posta Indian Reservations this afternoon due to the #Blackwood  Fire, which has charred over 30 acres and threatens homes..

An Evacuation Order requires immediate movement out of the affected area due to an imminent threat to life, per the County Dept. of Emergency Service.  Temporary Evacuation Points are located at the Golden Acorn Casino, 1800 Golden Acre Way, Campo.

The fire began near Blackwood Road and Old  Mine Road, north of I-8. It is spreading at a moderate rate of speed. .

SDG&E's camera indicates the fire is burning close to the Campo Wind Farm.

Cal Fire is on scene. Air tankers and a helicopter have been dispatched. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Dan Rigger

June 19, 2023 (Jamul) – Cal Fire has filed a lawsuit in San Diego Superior Court against the parents of two young children, seeking to recover $675,000 in costs for fighting the Skyline Fire in Jamul three years ago. The suit alleges that parents “negligently” supervised their children while camping at Skyline Truck Trail and that a fire started by their two young children on June 11, 2020 spread into the brush and onto neighboring property.

Source: Heartland Fire & Rescue

June 13, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- Today, Heartland Fire & Rescue announces that the Lemon Grove Fire Department has received a grant from the Gary Sinise Foundation, which provided the department with over $26,000 in much needed equipment.

East County News Service

June 8, 2023 (La Mesa)-- It's the best breakfast deal in town.  On Saturday, June 10, Heartland Firefighters of La Mesa will host a Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser at La Mesa Fire Station 11 (8034 Allison Avenue) from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. For just $5, guests can savor pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and orange juice, as well as  receive emergency preparedness training.

The public can receive training in several areas: CPR, Basic First Aid, and Crime Prevention. There will be training “stations” for the public to receive the information.

By Julie Cart, CalMatters

CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters

Photo:  Cal Fire dispatcher Ali Wiseman and Captain Hiram Vazquez embrace during a healing session at a trauma retreat in Desert Hot Springs. Photo by Ariana Drehsler for CalMatters

June 4, 2023 (Sacramento) - A state Senate bill that would expand workers’ compensation coverage for California first responders experiencing post traumatic stress — aimed at addressing what Cal Fire officials call a mental health crisis — has cleared its first legislative hurdle and been sent to the Assembly.