July 16, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Cal-Fire is on the scene of two small fires, both caused by lightning. The Henderson Fire, on Indian Head Peak in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is two to three acres. Firefighters and a helitack crew have cut a containment line around the blaze. A second blaze, the Cougar Fire, is burning on the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation and is less than an acre in an area with heavy fuel.

Update 3:50 p.m.:  

The Felipe Fire at Banner grade is now 50 acres on the east side of S-2 near Julian, spreading rapidly, Cal-Fire reports.  The Mission Valley Fire's spread has been slowed.  The fire near Lakeside is now contained and was confined to a drainage ditch.  New fires are burning near Campo Railroad in Campo and east of Shelter Valley, but both are lightning fires that should be contained soon, Cal-Fire batallion chief  Nick Schuler informed ECM.

July 15, 2010 3:05 p.m. --  Major brush fires are burning in Mission Valley and across multiple backcountry communities, including several sparked by wildfires.  Scroll down for details and please post any updates you may have in our comments section below.

July 13, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- A pair of incidents have caused traffic delays on East County highways this afternoon in Dulzura and Jacumba.

July 10, 2010 (Julian) – The Creek Fire, a grass fire that began at Highway 78 and Old Julian Highway near the community of Witch Creek at 3:28 p.m. today has been contained. The fire’s spread was stopped at less than two acres and Cal Fire’s incident commander has released all firefighting aircraft.

July 4, 2010 (La Mesa) – Investigators from Heartland Fire & Rescue have determined that a cigarette smoker started a brush fire shortly after 11:30 this morning in La Mesa. Fortunately, an alert homeowner spotted the blaze and called 911 to report a fire behind her home in the 7000 block of Saranac Street.  Firefighters arrived within five minutes and  fully extinguished flames ten minutes later from the quarter-acre fire burning in light, flashy fuels.

June 29, 2010 (San Diego) -- Concerned about potentially deeper cuts to fire safety, San Diego City Councilmember Marti Emerald is pushing for a new Council policy. She will introduce the new safety plan at the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on Wednesday, June 30th, at 2 p.m.
 

“Fire engines are already browned out affecting response times. The last thing we want to do is water down our Fire and Rescue Services even more,” says Emerald.

Update 3:15 p.m.  The fire has jumped to 259 acres, Viejas Fire Chief Don Butz has informed ECM. "It's in a very inaccessible area," said Butz, adding that the forward spread of the fire has been slowed.

June 26, 2010 (Santee) - A vegetation fire that began late this morning north of Santee is now approximately 70 acres in size, according to Heartland Fire dispatch.  The fire is burning westward into federal property in the adjacent Miramar area.

The blaze is not yet contained, however the forward spread of the fire is slowing, Heartland informed East County Magazine. Currently there are 100 firefighting personnel, five hand crews and three helicopters battling the blaze. Fixed wing aircraft have been released. 

Update 5:15 p.m.: Cal-Fire confirms this fire was started by a weed whacker with a metal blade. Residents are reminded not to trim brush after 10 a.m. and avoid metal blades, where possible.

Update 4 p.m.:  This fire has been contained at three acres.  
 

June 25, 2010 (Escondido) A brush fire at Harmony Grove and Country Club in Escondido is threatening a mobile home and has potential to reach five acres, Incident Page Network reports. The blaze is currently a half acre burning in light flashy fuel and spreading at a moderate rate.
 

View a map of the location here.

Update 6:15 p.m. Spread ofd the fire has been completely stopped, Cal-Fire reports. Firefighters remain on scene to mop up hot spots.

Update 3:50 p.m.  -- Firefighters now have a hose lay completely around the fire, which is expected to hold at 10 acres or less.  An air tanker has been dismissed but helicopters remain on site.

June 24, 2010 3:15 p.m. (Jacumba) -- I-8 westbound is closed due to a vegetation fire at Carrizo Gorge near the community of Jacumba. CHP has issued a Sig Alert.  The fire, now 7-10 acres, resulted from a motor vehicle accident that occurred at 2:13 p.m.  A car overturned and one victim is reportedly in acute status with burns, Incident Page Network reports. 

June 21, 2010 (San Diego) – A one-acre brush fire the 3900 block of Federal Boulevard near Highway 94 in San Diego has now been extinguished, San Diego Fire reports. The blaze caused evacuation of apartments along a ridge top late this afternoon, but was swiftly doused with no damage to structures.

"So what we have here is a helicopter that is buildling a fire hazard, and if a fire breaks out, it will respond in two to four hours--and taxpayers will be charged $7,500 an hour." -- Steve Whitburn, candidate, 4th Supervisorial district

June 16, 2010 (San Diego) – By a 5-0 vote, San Diego’s Board of Supervisors voted to allow Sunbird, a San Diego Gas & Electric Company helicopter intended to construct Sunrise Powerlink, to also be utilized for firefighting. View video of hearing.

Update June 17 10 am - The Narrows Fire is now 60% contained, with full containment expected by noon today, according to Chief Schuler.

JUNE 16, 2010 (Julian) – A 100 acre brush fire burning east of Julian is 50% contained, Cal-Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler has informed East County Magazine. The fire started at Highway 78 and Scissors Crossing, east of S2 and north of Shelter Valley and has burned acreage on both sides of 78.

June 15, 2010 (McCain Valley) -- If you see smoke rising over East County's backcountry tomorrow and Thursday, don't panic.  Cal-Fire will be conducting a “live fire” training exercise in the McCain Valley area near Boulevard approximately one mile north of Interstate 8 on June 16th and 17th. Smoke may be visible from many areas of Boulevard and the Campo Reservation as well as to those traveling on Interstate 8.

Electrical expert asks if same changes have been made along other

lines he identified as fire risks; SDG&E does not

respond to inquiries

June 14, 2010 (San Diego) – Back in February 2009, East County Magazine published claims by electrical transmission expert Ed Clark, who contended that faulty power line installations caused the Paradise, Witch and Cedar Fires. Clark and two other experts consulted by ECM contended that SDG&E installations of two down-guy wires connected by a single bolt were dangerous.

Clark, who has headed up power line installations for Southern California Edison and served as an expert witness for SDG&E, argued that SDG&E's installations were also illegal, violating a state rule requiring 12 inches of separation on poles. He provided evidence of arcing including charred, black marks on anchor bolts at the base of the pole where the 2003 Paradise fire began.