Wildfire and Emergency News

SCORCHING HEAT, HIGH FIRE RISK FORECAST STARTING TUESDAY

East County News Service

August 29, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- A long duration and high impact heat wave  with triple-digit temperatures is expected to begin Tuesday and last through at least Labor Day weekend, the National Weather Service predicts. 


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FIRE CAUSES MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGES AT LA MESA OFFICE DEPOT

East County News Service

Photo courtesy of La Mesa Police via Twitter

August 24, 2022 (La Mesa) – A fire that broke out inside Office Depot in La Mesa today caused over $1 million in damage to the building and its contents, according to Andy McKellar, public information officer for Heartland Fire & Rescue.


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PILOT SURVIVES PLANE CRASH NEAR I-8 BRIDGES IN EL CAJON

Story and photos by Josh Stotler, 2412 Fire Photo

Updated 4 p.m. with information from California Highway Patrol

August 19, 2022 (El Cajon) -- A small plane crashed Thursday morning on Greenfield Dr. in El Cajon. The pilot of the 1951 Cessna 195 attempted to land on Interstate 8 around 10:25 am and ended up between the East and West bound overpasses of interstate 8, coming to a rest on Greenfield Dr.

Eyewitnesses say the plane hit a car before coming to rest under the bridges. It is not immediately clear what caused the crash and the accident is still under investigation. California Highway Patrol conforms that a Hyundai Santa Fe driven by a 57-year-old Alpine woman sustained moderate damage.

The vehicle was traveling eastbound on Greenfield Drive under I-8 when it was struck, but fortunately the driver of the Hyundai, Carrie Zub, was not injured. Her dog was in the SUV and is also safe.

"I was like, 'Oh, my God, and I pulled to the right and stopped," Zub said, NBC 7 reports. "I'm just so grateful I'm OK."


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US STATE DEPARTMENT ISSUES EMERGENCY WARNINGS FOR TIJUANA AND NORTHERN MEXICO AMID FIRES AND ATTACKS BY CARTELS

By Henri Migala

Photos via Twitter

 

August 13, 2022 (San Diego) – Tijuana is on lockdown tonight amid a wave of violence, arson fires and attacks on bystanders fueled by warring drug cartels. American citizens are urged to avoid the areas and if already there, to seek secure shelter immediately.


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CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO RECEIVES AN EXCLUSIVE USE (EU) TYPE ONE HELICOPTER FOR THE 2022 FIRE SEASON

Source:  Cal Fire

August 3, 2022 (San Diego) - Effective Monday August 1, 2022 the CAL FIRE San Diego Unit will have an exclusive use Type 1 helicopter available for response (N795HT). The helicopter will operate out of the Ramona Airport and be managed by the CAL FIRE San Diego Unit's aviation personnel. This will bolster the fleet of aviation firefighting assets and can be utilized throughout San Diego County for wildfire suppression.


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HOMES EVACUATED IN RAMONA AS FIRE SHUTS DOWN HIGHWAY 78 EAST

Update July 28, 7 a.m. -- Roads have reopened, but drive carefully and watch for firefighters mopping up hot spots. Evacuation orders have been lifted.  While forward spread is 35% contained with forward spread halted at 180 acres and no homes lost, North County Fire District this morning issued a smoke advisory due to the lingering effects of the #CasnerFire in Ramona.

Update 7 p.m.  Forward spread has been stopped at 180 acres.

Update 2:25 p.m.:  The Casner Fire is now 156 acres and 0% contained, per Cal Fire. The Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP) set up for the #CasnerFire has been moved to Olive Peirce Middle School located at 1521 Hanson Lane in Ramona.

View video of fire drop on Golden Eagle Rd. near Witch Creek fire station, taken by Brett Stalbaum: https://youtu.be/hkpqIhOhbtM

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo, right, by Brett Stalbaum

July 27, 2022 (Ramona) -- Evacuation notices have been issued for homes on or near Rancho Ballena Road in the #CasnerFire, which has charred at least 40 acres in Ramona.

The fire began near the junction of Casner and State Route 78, which is closed eastbound at the Old Julian Highway. ECM photographer Brett Stalbaum reports the fire is near the Trumper's fruit stand close to Stage Coach Road and the Cal Fire Witch Creek station.

A temporary evacuation point has been moved to Olive Peirce Middle School at 1521 Hanson Lane.


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BRUSH FIRES IN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGEE NEAR OTAY RESERVOIR

East County Wildfires and Emergency Alerts

Update July 18, 2022:  This group of fires was halted at 100 acres.

Update 12:32 p.m.:  Incident commander indicates the fire is now 40 acres. At least 10 aircraft have been assigned including helitankers, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. 

July 17, 2022 (Otay) – Multiple small brush fires totaling approximately 10 acres are burning southeast of Otay Reservoir, about 1.5 miles south of Otay Lakes Road.

The fires, collectively called #Border27Fire,  are within the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge.


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CAL FIRE TREATS ROADSIDE BRUSH WITH FIRE RETARDANT IN LAKESIDE

 

East County News Service

County News Service contributed to this report

July 15, 2022 (Lakeside) – Fire crews from Cal Fire are treating brush along Wildcat Canyon Road in Lakeside with Phos-Chek fire retardant. The treatment limits the spread of fire from the road by limiting the flammability of the fuel, in this case brush and grass.


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NEW FIRE STATION IN EAST OTAY MESA WILL SERVE FAST-GROWING BORDER AREA

 

East County News Service

County News Service contributed to this report

Video by José Eli Villanueva

July 12, 2022 (Otay Mesa) – Numerous fires have started in recent years along the international border in the Otay area of San Diego County. On Tuesday, the San Diego County Fire Protection District broke ground on Fire Station 38 in East Otay Mesa. Once built, the station will serve a rapidly developing area which includes warehouses, transport businesses, two power plants and a battery facility. Crews housed there will also respond to calls on roads and highways in the area carrying traffic crossing the U.S. and Mexico border.


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EVACUATION WARNINGS IN DEHESA DUE TO HARBISON FIRE

 

 

Update 9:05 p.m.  -- Evacuation warnings have been lifted, the County Office of Emergency Services reports.

East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts

Video by Joe Dyke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSxmnewoRkI

July 12, 2022 (Dehesa) -- The #HarbisonFire burning in Dehesa has prompted evacuation warnings along Sycuan Oaks Drive, Vista De La Montana, and Trafalgar Road.  A warnings is to allow vulnerable people (such as those with disabilities or large animals) to leave in advance of an evacuation order.  A temporary evacuation point is at Sycuan Market, 4915 Dehesa Rd., El CAjon.

Harbison Canyon Road is closed between Dehesa Rd. and Crest Blvd.  

Forward spread of the fire has been stopped. Cal Fire reports 37 acres have burned.  


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MULTIPLE SMALL BRUSH FIRES

June 22, 2022 (San Diego's East County) -- Several small brush fires have ignited late this afternoon in East County and San Diego's inland areas, including blazes in McCain Valley near Boulevard, Borrego Springs, and Highland Valley near Ramona and Escondido. Firefighters have contained an earlier blaze near the border.

Here are details on the fires:


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BOARD VOTES TO OVERSEE GRANT PROGRAM TO HARDEN HOMES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  County Fire inspectors examine a home's exterior looking for fire vulnerabilities.

June 14, 2022 (San Diego) - The County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to establish a Home Hardening Program as part of a state pilot program to encourage homeowners to create fire-resistant homes.


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NEW BORDER FIRE AT MARRON VALLEY SWELLS TO 350 ACRES

June 13, 2022 (Barrett Junction ) -- The #Border13Fire east of Marron Valley Road has swelled to 350 acres and is 0% contained, growing swiftly from when it was reported two hours ago at just 30 acres, Cal Fire tweeted. This is a separate fire from the nearby Barrett Fire reported earlier.

 Multiple patients have been rescued from the fire area, Cal Fire reports.


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BARRETT JUNCTION FIRE NEARS STRUCTURES

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, right, by Connie Kirkpatrick

June 13, 2022 (Barrett Junction) – The #BarrettFire burning near Dulzura has scorched 65 acres and is 25% contained. There are no evacuation orders or warnings.  While no structures are immediately threatened, roughly 16 structures are being “evaluated for future risk,” according to Cal Fire’s Twitter feed.


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TEXT TO 911 SERVICE AVAILABLE IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY

Source:  San Diego Sheriff's Department

June 6, 2022 (San Diego) - Emergencies can happen to anyone, anywhere at any time. When you need to be quiet and making a phone call could place you in danger, Text to 9-1-1 is available in San Diego County.


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BE READY! COMMUNITY FIRE SAFETY EDUCATION FAIR JUNE 12

Source:  Rancho Helix de Oro Fire Safe Council

June 3, 2022 (El Cajon) - The Rancho Helix de Oro Fire Safe Council is sponsoring a free family-friendly education fair on June 12 to help residents prevent and prepare for devastating wildfires. The fair will be held from 1:30-4 p.m. at the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, 2122 Cuyamaca College Dr West, El Cajon. Presentations will be given beginning at 2 p.m. by San Miguel Fire and Rescue, Cal Fire and the American Red Cross, with the opportunity to ask questions of the presenters. Displays will also be offered with home fire safety and safety information materials. San Miguel fire trucks and a brush clearing truck will also be on display.


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CAL FIRE TO SUSPEND BURN PERMITS IN SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES

Source:  Cal Fire

June 1, 2022 (El Cajon) - As the state and region move closer to critical burning conditions, CAL FIRE San Diego is suspending all burn permits for outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of San Diego and Imperial Counties. This suspension takes effect June 1st, 2022 and bans all residential outdoor burning of landscape debris such as branches and leaves.


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CAL FIRE EYES CAMP FOX FOR NEW FIRE CENTER

By Chuck Westerheide, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  entry to the new Fox Fire Center

May 24, 2022 (Palomar Mountain) -County Fire and CAL FIRE are working to turn a sixth-grade camp site at the base of Palomar Mountain into a fire center to train new firefighters. Today, a board letter from Supervisor Jim Desmond recommended the County finalize an agreement with CAL FIRE to use the Camp Fox site as a wildland firefighting base.  The Camp Fox property was owned by the County, but transferred to the San Diego County Office of Education in 1977.  It is now transferring back to the County.


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COUNTY FIRE REACHES NEW HEIGHTS WITH MT. LAGUNA FIRE STATION

By Chuck Westerheide, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  fire crews and residents gather to celebrate the opening of Mt. Laguna Fire Station 49

May 6, 2022 (Mt. Laguna) - County Fire, CAL FIRE and the community of Mt. Laguna on Wednesday celebrated the completion of the County’s highest elevation fire station, sitting at about 6,000 feet.


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MAN ARRESTED FOR ARSON FIRES

East County News Service

May 2, 2022 (Vista) - A man has been arrested on suspicion of setting several fires in the North County, says Sergeant Anthony Portillo with the Sheriff’s bomb arson unit.


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SHERIFF SEEKS LEADS ON SUSPICIOUS FIRES IN NORTH COUNTY

Man seen setting multiple fires in Vista.

Source:  San Diego County Sheriff

May 1, 2022 (Vista) - The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is investigating a series of suspicious fires in the North County. 

On April 28 just before 4:00 p.m., deputies from the Vista Sheriff's Station responded to a report of a brush fire near the intersection of La Tortuga Drive and Hacienda Drive in the City of Vista. 


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COUNTY BOLSTERING AERIAL FIRE RESOURCES

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  this is a sketch of the twin-engine Bell 412 EPX helicopter which the County will be purchasing for the Sheriff's Department fleet.

April 27, 2022 (San Diego) - The County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to strengthen aerial fire protection in the region by approving the purchase of a new twin-engine firefighting helicopter and adding two additional firefighting helicopters to a firefighting response agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric.


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FROM THE FIRE CHIEF’S CORNER: WHOSE FAULT IS IT? APRIL IS EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS MONTH

Whose fault is it? We all own a bit of it!

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

April 9, 2022 (San Diego) -- Let’s Rock! The month of April is declared “Earthquake Preparedness Month” by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services according to Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. We are “way” over-due for an earthquake. Now is the time to prepare, not afterwards says Chief DiGiovanna!


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LOCAL MEDIA'S ACCESS TO BREAKING NEWS THREATENED BY ENCRYPTED POLICE RADIOS

By J.W. August, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo by Robert Gehr

April 3, 2022 (San Diego) - For editors and reporters, access to the police scanner is a critical — and immediate — news source when covering breaking news, be it a massive fire raging through a community or rescue workers trying find a child swept away in a creek.

That access is being threatened in California now that dozens of law enforcement agencies, including the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, have made the decision to fully encrypt their communications, based on a directive from the agency whose statewide computer network provides criminal histories, driver records and other public safety information.

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FIRE WEATHER AND HEAT WAVE HIT REGION

East County News Service

April 6, 2022 (San Diego) - High temperatures are forecast through Friday, combined with Santa Ana winds and low humidity for elevated fire weather. Inland areas are forecast to hit triple digits, reaching up to 102 degrees in the desert and in the high 90s in inland valleys, even near the coast Mountains will be slightly cooler in the low 80s.


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COUNTY ASKS PUBLIC TO TAKE SURVEY ON EMERGENCY SERVICES

Source: San Diego County Office of Emergency Services

April 4, 2022 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Office of Emergency Services is asking County residents to provide feedback for two emergency plans.

 

The goal is to further protect residents, their property, and the environment. The survey feedback will be incorporated into the Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan and the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.


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LATE-NIGHT FIRE BEHIND SANTEE WALMART POINTS UP IMPORTANCE OF NIGHT-FLYING HELICOPTERS, WHICH COUNTY WILL SOON ACQUIRE

Supervisor Fletcher pledged in his State of the County speech Tuesday to finally acquire a night-flying helicopter for San Diego County

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Screenshot off Malik Earnest’s Twitter post

 

March 31, 2022 (Santee) – A brush fire reported shortly before midnight behind the Santee Walmart at 170 Town Center Parkway took over three hours to fully extinguish.


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SMALL FIRE DOUSED NEAR LA MESA TROLLEY STOP

East County News Service

Image: CC via Bing

Update April 2, 2022: A suspect, 31, has been arrested on suspicion of arson in this case, as well as throwing a rock at the trolley.

March 31, 2022 (La Mesa) – A brush fire scorched less than an acre yesterday afternoon before being doused by Heartland Fire & Rescue crews.


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AUDIT: CALIFORNIA UTILITIES AREN’T DOING ENOUGH TO REDUCE WILDFIRE THREATS

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:  Camp Fire via U.S. Forest Service

March 27, 2022 (San Diego) - As record-breaking drought fuels another potentially dangerous wildfire season, the state auditor reported today that state officials are failing to hold California’s electric utilities accountable for preventing fires caused by their equipment.


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JUDGE BLOCKS FANITA RANCH, CITING FIRE DANGER

By Miriam Raftery and Mike Allen

March 10, 2022 (San Diego) – Citing wildfire evacuation concerns, San Diego Superior Court Judge Katherine Bacal has ruled that the city of Santee and the City Council violated state law in approving Fanita Ranch, HomeFed’s long-planned 3,000 home development.  The project would be built on more than 2,600 acres of fire-prone hillsides in the city’s northwest section.

The ruling found that the city’s environmental review of the project was inadequate, violating California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by failing to adequately disclose how the development would affect wildfire evacuations and safety in the surrounding community.

The Judge also slammed the city for its last-minute removal of the Magnolia Avenue extension from the project just six days before approving the project’s EIR, even though that extension had been touted as a key wildfire evacuation route. This was inadequate for public review or evaluation of impacts on neighbors along other connector roads should an evacuation be needed. In addition, the judge found, “the City’s decision not to recirculate the EIR violated CEQA.”


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