By Miriam Raftery

July 9, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- Our readers have sent some dramatic images of the Chariot Fire, which as of tonight has scorched 4,850 acres and burned at least eight buildings. 

Here are some of the most stunning images from our readers--and thanks to the many of you who sent in photos and news tips on this major story.  (Note, additional photos were used in our earlier stories on this fire, all in our wildfire news section.)

Jim Pelley shot the photo, left, taken at sunset in Ocotillo.

Photo left: View at start of fire from Sunrise Highway; photo by Erik Johnson

Update 4:30 p.m. -- The fire is now 2,500 acres.  An evacuation center is now open at Joan McQueen Middle School, 2001 Tavern Road in Alpine.  The fire is now just one mile from communication towers on Monument Peak, including the new KNSJ 89.1 FM station's transmitter. 

Update 12:30 p.m. -- Pine Hills Cafe and Tavern has sent an email advising that there are now mandatory evacuations for the following sites:  Shrine Camp, Laguna/ElPrado Campgrounds, & Horse Heaven Campground, and for two private properties.  The town is not evacuated, however, at this time and the cafe remains open for business.

View map of fire: https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/971143_561267857270007_1100094835_n.jpg

 

July 7, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- The Chariot Fire, which began yesterday near the Butterfield Ranch, is now 1,700 acres, according to estimates by air attack pilots. Cal Fire officially lists the fire size at 1400 acres as of 8:45 a.m. The fire is still only 10 percent contained and could burn for days, scanner traffic indicates.

The fire is burning nine miles southeast of Julian.  Sunrise Highway on Mount Laguna  reopened briefly after yesterday's shut down, but a hard closure has again been ordered from Highway 79 to Pine Valley. Voluntary evacuations of cabins and the Shriners campground have occurred as the fire burned into the canyon below the campground.  A structure protection team has been assembled.  

The fire is now under joint command of the U.S. Forest Service and Cal-Fire as it burns into Cleveland National Forest.  Firefighters have been contending with shifting winds and some have been treated for heat exhaustion. 

By Nadin Abbott

Photos and videos by Billy Ortiz

View video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFyIKMWlzdE&feature=youtu.be

 July 2, 2013 (Lakeside)—Firefighters from Heartland Fire, the U.S. Forestry Service, Cal-Fire and Lakeside Fire Department have attained 50% containment of a brush fire that consumed at least 110 acres Lakeside as of this evening.  The fire began along El Monte Road in light, flashy fuels this afternoon and burned portions of El Cajon Mountain (El Capitan).

June 29, 2013 (San Diego) – One out of every four fires is started by arson, according to Cal-Fire. When an arsonist sets a fire, everyone pays. Arson fires destroy homes, businesses, communities, forests, wilderness and lives. They cost our community considerably in fire losses, firefighting expenses and higher insurance premiums. They also tie up fire crews and equipment needlessly.

By Nadin Abbott

June 28. 2013 (San Diego’s East County)-- The smoke that residents in East County have seen in recent days is coming from a fire in Mexico, about 17 miles (28 kilometers) south of the international border. The fire has consumed 1,235 acres (500 hectares) and it is about 50% contained.

Cases have significance for ratepayers if jurors find SDG&E liable for punitive damages

By Nadin Abbott; Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

June 21, 2013 (San Diego)—Six years after the Witch Creek/Guejito fires, which the California Public Utilities Commission found were caused by SDG&E’s lines, over 2,000 victims have reached settlements with SDG&E. But 16 victims have not settled or received any compensation from the utility for their losses.  Now a judge has ruled that some cases may proceed to trial.

At a court hearing on June 19, Judge Richard E. L. Strauss ruled that victims will finally have their day in court—in some cases, with a tort liability, all-issues trial. That could force SDG&E to pay punitive damages if a jury finds the utility was negligent and knew of fire hazards that it failed to correct.    

Judge Strauss has set a date for the all-issues trial to finally settle the remaining cases of the Witch Creek/ Rice and Guejito Fires of 2007. These were among the most destructive fires in San Diego history.

By Nadin Abbott; photos by Tom and Nadin Abbott

June 17, 2018 (San Diego)—Aerial and ground firefighting efforts, including bulldozers, held yesterday’s brush fire to 110 acres.  The blaze started around 4:30 off the shoulder of State Route 52 just east of Santo Road. Flames spread quickly in light to medium fuels into the boundary of Mission Trails Regional Park, precipitating a multi-agency responses.

When we first arrived on scene at Highway 52 and Santo Road, the highway was clogged with a hard closure of the on ramp.

June 5, 2013 (Lemon Grove)--Two hundred goats are munching away in Lemon Grove, clearing about an acre of dry brush a day. 

The City of Lemon Grove, along with its fire department, Heartland Fire & Rescue, has brought in the four footed brush-clearing team to create defensible space that helps firefighters protect homes from wildfire.

The goats are at work near Central Ave and Liberty Charter High School, and may be visible to motorists along State Route 125.

June 2, 2013 (Alpine)--Alpine Sheriff's Station will host a free community meeting for homeowners on how to prepare your homes and families for wildfire. The event will be held Monday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard in Alpine.  A severe fire season is anticipated due to drought, so authorities urge residents to learn how to reduce risk of loss and help firefighters protect your properties before the next major wildfire occurs.

Guest Speakers will include:

By Nadin Abbott

Photo:  Firefighters battle spot fire in Lakeside; photo by Jeff Holz

May 26, 2013 (San Diego East County)—Fire season is off to an early start. Yesterday, even as firefighters fought to contain the 1800-acre San Felipe fire in the mountains of East County, four new fires drew resources from across the region.  Here is a wrap-up on those fires in Ramona, Lakeside, the Santee/San Diego boundary area, Dulzura, and the border region.

By Nadin Abbott

Update May 24, 2013: 2 p.m. - The blaze is now 1800 acres.

Update May 24, 2013: Cal Fire held the blaze to 1500 overnight and now has 60% containment, with no threat to structures. One minor injury to a firefighter occurred.

May 23, 2013 (San Felipe)—Around 1 p.m., Cal Fire informed San Diegans through its Twitter account that it was conducting a controlled burn near the site of last year’s Ranchita Fire.Soon after, according to Cal Fire Deputy Chief Kely Zombro, “The winds shifted in an unprecedented way.”

The fire escaped the containment area, triggering mobilization of resources from across the region. As luck would have it, a multi-agency wildland training drill was being conducted at the Barona Reservation, where firefighters were swiftly shifted from the drill to the fire scene for a hands-on real-life exercise.

Photo by Kim Hamilton

Update 5 p.m.:  The fire has reached 100 acres and is burning uphill and into the Otay Truck Trail area, closer to homes. Smoke is visible from Highway 94.

Update from Cal-Fire at 4:40 p.m.:   CAL FIRE is on scene of a 7 acre vegetation fire along the US/Mexico Border near Alta Road and Tin Can Hill (TB Map 1352 C3).  Currently we have 17 engines, 6 fire crews, 4 airtankers, 2 helicopters, 1 bulldozer, 3 water tenders and 2 chief officers either on scene or enroute.

The fire was dispatched at 4:14 and the fire originated in Mexico.  No structures are threatened.

May 22, 2013 (Otay) – Firefighters are battling a fast-spreading brush fire that started at Alta Road and Via De La Amistad in the east Otay area south of Otay Lakes.   The fire has  charred at least seven acres and has potential to burn 300, IPN reports.

There are currently no structure threats.  On flank has slowed but the other side is “taking off” per IPN.   Six hand crews and ten type-3 engines have been requested by the incident commander.

Residents Urged to Clear Defensible Space, Plan for Family Readiness

May 22, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – California has already seen 1,569 wildfires this year, about 500 more fires compared to the same period last year and 85 percent more fires than in an average year. With the long, hot and dangerous summer a real possibility, County Supervisor Dianne Jacob and public safety officials today urged residents to protect their homes against wildfires by creating a 100-foot buffer zone.

“Now is the time to prepare for what is shaping up as a tougher-than-usual fire season,” said Supervisor Jacob. “The firestorms of 2003 and 2007 taught us that homes with defensible space are far more likely to survive than homes without it.”

Ordeal shines spotlight on East County’s failure to offer shelter for the homeless

“We are too late. We the community of East County have let our homeless vets down again.”  --a reader's post on Fox News story about the fire

By Nadin Abbott and Miriam Raftery; photos by Billy Ortiz and Nadin Abbott

May 12, 2013 (Lakeside) – It was a grim Mother’s Day for families displaced by a fire that ravaged mobile homes in Lakeside today, and for a homeless woman veteran who is hospitalized with serious burns.

By Nadin Abbott

May 12, 2013 (El Cajon)—California Governor Edmund G. Brown declared the past week “Wildfire Awareness Week.”  On Thursday,  the top brass fromr Cal-Fire and San Diego Sheriff’s Department addressed the media. ECM also spoke with Lakeside Division Chief R. Laff.

All officials are urging San Diego residents who live in the urban-rural interface, as well as rural areas to be ready for a severe fire season that’s started early. So far Cal Fire has responded to more than 1,100 wildfires already, which is 500 more than normal for this time of year. According to Cal Fire Chief Cal Fire Chief Dale Hutchinson, Southern Region Chief 40,000 acres burned last week.

Officials are urging residents to get ready and maintain 100-feet of defensible space. This is not optional; it is the law, as Chief Hutchinson told us, for those in the urban-wildland interface. Also clean your gutters, and other places where dry vegetation might accumulate. If you do any remodeling, look into the latest fire resistant materials. In addition, remove all tree branches that are within six feet of your home.