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.

By Miriam Raftery

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

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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

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.

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.  

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.