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.

By Miriam Raftery

June 10, 2010 (Spring Valley) – Only ten area residents showed up at a June 3rd meeting convened by San Miguel Fire to discuss a budget crisis facing the District. Chief August Ghio presented a Power Point presentation. Several residents offered suggestions for the District to pare back expenses, said public information officer Leonard Villareal.

Those suggestions included:

June 9, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A four-acre brush fire on Dictionary Hill in Spring Valley threatened homes in the 1400 block of Coronado.  The fire caused some damage to decks and external walls, Chief August Ghio of San Miguel Fire has confirmed.

Update 3:30 p.m. - These fires are now contained. The Quail fire in Flinn Springs was caused by a mulch pile that ignited. Causes of the other fires remain under investigation.

Update 2:10 p.m. -- A third fire is reported in Flinn Springs at Quail Canyon and Ranch Trail; no structures are threatened.  A fourth fire is burning in Lakeside on Rancho Trail and air support has been requested.  The Japatul fire is now contained.

June 5, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Cal-Fire is on the scene of two brush fires. Both fires started shortly before 1 p.m. and each is currently about two to three acres in size.  Details below. 

June 1, 2010 (San Diego) – The Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Fire Deparment will be conducting a series of prescribed burns on base property through June 30th. A scheduled burn is slated for tomorrow, June 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting. Miramar Fire Department Crews will be on a ridge top in east Miramar and smoke will be visible along SR-52, SR-163, from Interstate 15 as well as in local communities.

May 30, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A hawk flew into power lines today in Mira Mesa, igniting a fire that briefly threatened homes. The fire is now extinguished. This evening, Cal-Fire is at the scene of a small fire started by a riding lawn mower on Haverford Road in Ramona. The fire is surrounded and is expected to be out soon.

May 29, 2010 (Lakeside) 4:30 p.m. – A 30-acre fire centered at Slaughterhouse Canyon Road just north of Lakeside has been 100% contained at 30 acres. The fire was caused by pieces of a malfunctioning catalytic converter expelled from a vehicle, according to Cal Fire spokesperson Roxanne Provaznik.

‘Now is the time of year to keep your vehicles properly maintained, so that fires like this don’t happen,” say’s Fire Investigator Captain Preston Fouts. Also to help prevent fires now that it’s camping season, R.V. owners are asked to check safety chains on the tow hitch and make sure they are tight and not sagging onto the pavement, causing sparks.

“The industry standard is one firefighter for every 1,000 in population. San Miguel is currently operating with one firefighter for every 5,400 taxpayers.”  - Alan Laatsch, president,  Firefighters Local 1434
May 27, 2010 (Spring Valley) – Facing a $1.6 million deficit, San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District’s Board tonight considered a proposal to lay off three firefighters, eliminate the Administrative Division Chief position and demote several officials.  But after hearing moving testimony from firefighters, fire and accident victims, and others in the community, the Board voted unanimously to reject the recommendation and consider other options.

Among the most moving testimony came from Doug de Brauwere, a father with young children. “I’ll be the first firefighter to be laid off,” he testified, his voice choked with emotion. “I spent 10 years serving my country; a year and a half of that was in Iraq.”