Wildfire and Emergency News

RED FLAG/WILDFIRE UPDATES

 

November 2, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has extended today’s red flag alert through this evening as hot, gusty winds continue through much of East County.

A fire burning in Mexico is putting up smoke visible in the southeast portion of the County.


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SAN MIGUEL FIRE DISTRICT RESIDENTS SEEK HELP TO SAVE FIRE ENGINE


Sycuan may offer hope for restoring service in Dehesa; Mount Helix could be next to lose fire services

By Miriam Raftery

 


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SCORCHED: SAN MIGUEL FIRE BOARD VOTES TO ELIMINATE FIRE PROTECTION AT DEHESA STATION, IMPOSE STEEP CUTS TO FIREFIGHTERS’ BENEFITS

By Miriam Raftery

“This is a shame and an embarrassment.” – La Mesa Councilman David Allen, former San Miguel Firefighter


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BRUSH FIRE NEAR RANCHITA STOPPED

 

Update October 27, 2011 at 12:50 p.m. -- The fire's spread has been stopped at 15 acres or less, Cal-Fire spokesperson Roxanne Provaznik confirms.  "The Incident Commander has released  one strike team of engines, three water tenders, and all aerial firefighting equipment, except for one helicopter," she said. Firefighters will be committed for several more hours mopping up any remaining hot spots.


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NO BURN ORDER REMAINS AS FIRE DANGER IS ELEVATED

October 25, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Due to elevated fire danger with extremely dry conditions, a no-burn proclamation issued by Cal-Fire remains in effect in all state responsibility lands within San Diego and Imperial Counties.

In addition to suspension of open burning, use of campfires are restricted to within established campfire facilities in established campgrounds open to the public.

 


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SAN MIGUEL FIRE DISTRICT MOVES TO ELIMINATE FIRE ENGINES FROM DEHESA STATION

 

Labor dispute also heats up; Oct. 26 and 27 meetings set as budget woes deepen

 

By Miriam Raftery

 

October 20, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Residents in the Dehesa area of unincorporated El Cajon will be losing a firefighting structure engine and a wildland fire engine due starting November 1.

 

In addition, a three-man engine will be replaced by a two-man paramedic crew—a situation that the San Miguel Firefighters Association (SMFA) contends on its website is “unsafe” but that the District contends is necessary due to dwindling property tax revenues that fund firefighting services.


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CAL-FIRE CANCELS NO-BURN ORDER

October 15, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Cal-Fire has cancelled the no-burn proclamation ordered earlier in the week for areas under state fire jurisdiction in San Diego and Imperial Counties.  The ban on open burning has been lifted due to improvement in weather conditions including increased humidity and moisture content.  


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ARSON SUSPECT IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING LAKESIDE FIRE

 

October 13, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The California Highway Patrol website indicates a brush fire that began at 7:50 a.m. on Old Highway 80 (I-8 business route) at Aurora in Lakeside was arson.A subject is in custody. 

 

A SIG ALERT issued earlier for lane closures has been canceled.

 

 


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TARGET FIRE BLAMED FOR OTAY-AREA FIRE

October 12, 2011 (Otay) – A three-acre fire off Highway 94 near the Otay Lakes area Border Patrol checkpoint was caused by target shooting, Cakl Fire reports. The fire was held to three acres, with no injuries or property damage.

 


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FIRE DOUSED IN SAN PASQUAL

October 12, 2011 (San Pasqual) – A fire that began near the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has been doused, Cal-Fire reports. The grass fire charred approximately two to three acres this afternoon off Highway 78 near Clevenger Canyon.

 

No structures were threatened; cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
 


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CAL-FIRE ISSUES NO-BURN ORDER FOR BACKCOUNTRY


October 12, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal-Fire) has issued a no-burn proclamation due to the extreme risk of fire caused by critical fire weather and acute dryness of vegetation. The order suspends burning permits and other uses of open fire in all state responsibility area lands within San Diego and Imperial Counties.

 


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SAN MIGUEL FIRE INVITES PUBLIC TO “SAFE AND SOUND” FIRE EXPO OCT. 15

 

UPDATE:  THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO A LABOR DISPUTE.

 

San Miguel Fire seeks sponsors and door prize donors for event

 

October 8, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) – Bring the family for fun and free activities at the 5th annual Fire Expo at the Rancho San Diego Towne Center on Saturday, October 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event features a children’s zone, rescue demonstrations, fire and rescue vehicles, fire safety and health information, law enforcement demonstrations, music, free food and free prize drawings.


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GREAT FIRE 65% CONTAINED

 

October 3, 2011 (Julian)  Update 7 p.m.- The Great Fire is 65 percent contained this evening and holding at 2,000 acres, the same size the wildfire has been estimated at since yesterday morning.

 


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EVACUATION ADVISORIES LIFTED IN GREAT FIRE NEAR JULIAN

 

October 3, 2011 (Julian) 1:25 p.m. – All evacuation advisories have been lifted in the Julian area, where the Great Fire is 40% contained. Road closures have also been lifted, however the Pacific Crest Trail in the fire affected areas remains closed, as well as Rodriguez Truck Trail.

 


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MORE THAN A THOUSAND FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING GREAT FIRE; BLAZE BURNING N ANZA BORREGO STATE PARK AND FEDERAL FOREST LANDS

 

October 2, 2011 (Borrego) – Cal Fire reports  that the Great Fire, which started south of 78 near Julian yesterday (see ECM report ), has grown to 2,000 acres and is only 5% contained, Cal Fire spokesoperson Roxanne Provaznik confirms. 

 


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EVACUATION ADVISIORY ISSUED FOR 1,100 HOMES IN JULIAN AREA DUE TO WILDFIRE

 

 Update October 2, 2011 6:45 p.m. --The Great Fire is 20 percent contained and holding at 2,000 acres. Currently there are 119 engines, 52 fire crews, eight bulldozers, and 21 water tenders at the scene, a total of 1,486 firefighters. Fire crews have four miles of containment line to construct; cost to fight the fire is estimated at $650,000, said Roxanne Provaznik at Cal-Fire. 


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WINDS SHIFT AS GREAT FIRE NEAR JULIAN BURNS TOWARD DESERT


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BORDER FIRE IN BOULEVARD STOPPED AT 20 ACRES

September 30, 2011 (Boulevard)—A brush fire started by lightning threatened homes this afternoon in Boulevard.

 


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LIGHTNING IGNITES SEVERAL FIRES IN EAST COUNTY; WARNER SPRINGS FIRE NOW 150 ACRES

 

Update October 1:  The Chihuahua Fire in Warner Springs was 50% contained as of 9 a.m. October 1. Cal-Fire has estimated the total acreage downward to 40 acres (from 100 acres estimated yesterday).  The Border Fire is 100% contained.

 


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FIRE NEAR LIVE OAK SPRINGS NOW 40% CONTAINED

Update 4:45 p.m.  The Tierra del Sol fire is 40% contained at 3 acres. There has been structure damage, according to Cal Fire Captain Mike Mohler. Forward spread has been stopped.

 

Update 4:30 p.m.  Incident Page Network reports "many homes threatened."  CHP site indicates reverse 911 calls are being considered though no evacuations have yet been ordered.


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BRUSH FIRE AT BARONA

September 29, 2011 (Lakeside) -- A 1-acre brush fire with potential to reach 10 acres is burning at the Barona Golf Course, 1932 Barona Road in Lakeside, Incident Page Network reported at 3 p.m.  Watch for updates.

 


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CAL FIRE ANNOUNCES PRESCRIBED BURN SET FOR SEPT. 22 NEAR BOULEVARD


September 21, 2011 (Boulevard) -- –Cal Fire resources will be conducting a small prescribed burn in the area of Mc Cain Conservation Camp north east of the Community of Boulevard. This burn is scheduled to take place in the early evening hours of September 22, 2011 between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

 


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VOTE TODAY! LAST CHANCE TO HELP OUR WILDFIRE & EMERGENCY ALERTS

 

Fire officials warn this could be the worst fire season in years--and budget cuts has slashed 72 firefighters from Cal Fire in San Diego.  We need funds now to be sure we can keep you alerted if a major fire strikes!

 

We can still earn hundreds of dollars more to fund our Viejas Wildfire& Emergency Alerts if you vote TODAY. 

 Please vote here now:  www.ideal4acause.com/vote.php

(1 vote person; only San Diego County votes will be counted. Mulltiple votes per household or computer are

allowed.) Ask friends, family and coworkers to vote, too! We get money for every work.

 

Photos courtesy of Dennis Richardson and La Mesa Fire Department


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FIRE IN ALPINE/HARBISON CANYON AREA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update September 19, 2011, 6 p.m. -- This fire has been halted at 7 acres, Cal Fire Captain Mike Mohler confirms. No structures were damaged.


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HELICOPTER CRASH IN PENDLETON/FALLBROOK AREA SPARKS MAJOR BRUSH FIRE

Update 6:20 p.m. -- "Per Camp Pendleton Fire we are pleased to report the fire on the base has been held to 120 acres with no structures damaged or destroyed and is 80% contained. Resources are being released and some crews will remain on scene through the night in a mop up and patrol operation," Cal-Fire Captain Mike Mohler reports.

By Miriam Raftery

September 19, 2011 (Fallbrook) – The Hotel Fire, a blaze that started from a military helicopter crash at 601 Ammunition Road, has now grown to 85 acres, Incident Page Network reports. The AH-1 Cobra crash resulted in deaths of both persons aboard, the Marine Corps confirms.


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MULTIPLE MAJOR INCIDENTS IN REGION INCLUDE FIRE, HELICOPTER CRASH, BUS FIRE & HEAD-ON COLLISION


September 19, 2011 – 1:50 p.m. – ECM has received reports of at least 6 serious incidents across our region:

 

 


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GOVERNOR AWARDS MEDAL OF VALOR TO DEPUTIES WHO SAVED ROCK CLIMBERS DURING MONTE FIRE

 

By Miriam Raftery

 

September 19, 2011 (San Diego) – San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore has announced that Deputies Scott Bligh and Gary Kneeshaw were awarded the 2010 Governor’s Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor.  

 


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LIGHTNING SPARKS SMALL FIRES NEAR BORREGO

 

September 14, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Lightning strikes have ignited two small brush fires in Shelter Valley, between Julian and Borrego Springs, Cal Fire confirms.

 


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NEW AND LARGER FIRE FEE LANGUISHES UNTIL NEW SESSION BEGINS IN SACRAMENTO

 

By Billie Jo Jannen
For East County Magazine

 

September 11, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--As the state legislative session came to a close with the usual last minute hustle to get bills passed before midnight Friday, rural residents narrowly escaped a rewritten state fire fee that would have increased many property owners’ bills by hundreds – or even thousands – of dollars per year.

 

The bill, dubbed SB1X7 in the senate and ABX 1 24 in the assembly is far from dead, however, and could be reintroduced in the new session, which starts Jan. 4, 2012.   Meanwhile the Dept. of Finance plans to begin sending bills to property tax owners this fall under the plan originally approved.


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FIRE IN SPRING VALLEY; ANOTHER FIRE IN SAN DIEGO DOUSED

September 9, 2011 (Spring Valley) 5:25 p.m. – A half-acre fire is burning in Spring Valley. According to Heartland dispatch, the fire began in the 8700 block of Central Way. Forward spread has been stopped. 

 

Another fire torched a quarter-acre along I-15 at Adams Avenue but was swiftly put out by San Diego Fire and Rescue a short time ago.



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