Residents Urged to Clear Defensible Space Ahead of Peak Fire Season

May 27, 2012 (Jamul) – On May 22, Cal Fire and County officials, including County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, gave a tour with the homeowners of a correctly cleared space around a Jamul home.  With vegetation drying out and summer drawing near now is the best time to make sure homes are protected by 100 feet of defensible space.  Cal Fire Chief, Thom Porter led the tour and provided a map of high-risk areas that have not burned recently.

May 27, 2012 (San Diego) -- The San Diego Archaeological Center is hosting a trio of events in June starting with the Center’s Annual BBQ on June 2 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  The event is catered and will be held at the Center located at 16666 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido.  For $6.00 you will receive smoked pork sandwiches, beans, coleslaw, drinks and dessert.  Games and contests will round out the fun.

May 27, 2012 (Ocotillo) –The Protect Our Communities Foundation, Backcountry Against Dumps, and Donna Tisdale of Boulevard are suing the Imperial County Board of Supervisors and Pattern Energy.

The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court in Imperial County, seeks to halt construction of the Ocotillo Express wind facility. Plaintiffs allege that Supervisors’ approval violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and that the Final Environmental Impact Report failed to analyze off-site or distributed generation alternatives such as rooftop solar.

Two other suits have been filed by the Quechan Indians and Desert Protective Council, both citing destruction of cultural and natural resources as a key issue. The latest legal action goes farther, also citing threats to the health and welfare of residents, among other serious impacts.

 Editor's note:  After posting a story on an early election "lead" based on information posted by the San Diego Registrar on the 50th Congressional District race, we received a full list of purported "early results" from all San Diego races that casts serious doubt on its authenticity. It included a July '76 date and results in other races that seemed impossible, such as Senator Feinstein with less than 2% of the vote, Bonnie Dumanis in first place in the Mayoral race (polls have showed her trialing other leading candidates), and obscure candidates leading well-known and well-financed contenders in several other prominent races.

Barry Jantz at San Diego Rostra advised ECM that some Republican candidates also viewed the results and were contacting him with questions. The Registrar's office later confirmed with Jantz that the "results" were in fact a test mistakenly posted online, he said.The Registrar has now taken down the site.

May 28, 2012 (San Diego) -- If you're heading out to a picnic or parade for Memorial Day weekend, the weather couldn't be better! Gary Kelley has details at Your Online Weather--plus a special tip on a special East County celebration to honor our veterans.

 Updated May 27, 2012, 10 a.m. -- The Banner Fire was held at 4,100 acres through the night and remains 65% contained. Fire suppression cost has reached $2 million. Excess resources are now being dismissed, according to Roxanne Provaznik with Cal-Fire.

May 26, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The Banner Fire has burned 4,100 and is 65 percent contained as of 5 p.m. this evening, Cal Fire reports. There are currently no evacuations.  The fire is burning in the Banner Grade area south of Highway 78 and east of Julian.  All roads are now open.

May 26, 2012 (Alpine) -- The public is invited to enter to win 4 tickets for a harbor or whale watching cruise aboard Hornblower Cruises & Events simply by stopping by the California Welcome Center-Alpine, 5005 Willows Rd., Ste. H110, Alpine. Visit on Memorial Day Weekend and enter for a chance to win a prize package valued at $148.00.

By Miriam Raftery
Kristin Kjaero also contributed to this report

Vermont’s latest energy statute expands its statewide Clean Local Energy Accessible Now (CLEAN) Program and removes program cap for projects with locational benefits to the power grid.

May 26, 2012 (Montpelier, Vermont)– On May 18, Vermont’s Governor Shumlin signed into law the 2012 Energy Bill, which contains a groundbreaking acknowledgment of the locational benefits of distributed generation and more than doubles the amount clean local energy that will be brought online through the state’s CLEAN program. Similar programs could well be applied in places such as San Diego to encourage locally-generated rooftop solar and other local power as alternatives to massive industrial-scale energy projects and high-voltage transmission lines running long distances.  

May 26, 2012 (Alpine) -- The Alpine Historical Society presents Alpine History Day Celebration on June 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 2116 Tavern Road, Alpine.  The event will feature new displays in Dr. Nichols’ carriage house, tours of two pioneer houses, a Model T and an organ concert on the veranda.

May 26, 2012 (Santee) -- The Santee Street Fair is back May 26 at RiverView Parkway from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  This year’s featured bands include Atomic Groove, Creedence Relived and Liquid Blue. 

There will be rides, entertainment, arts and crafts, vendor booths, a variety of food and a Beer Garden. The free festival is open to all ages.

May 25, 2012 (San Diego) – San Diego Police have issued a warning that on three occasions in the past two weeks, a man in a red vehicle has attempted to abduct children near Emerson Elementary School in the Mountain View neighborhood in southeast san Diego.

According to Officer David Stafford, a white male in his 50s attempted to coerce the youngsters by offering money and when they refused, ordering them into his vehicle. He has been reported driving a red truck and also a red sports car with damaged front passenger side bumper. The man, in his 50s, is described as white, pot-bellied and bald with a white goatee and salt-and-pepper hair. He has a thin face with pronounced cheek bones.

By Miriam Raftery

May 25, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The military has dealt a major blow to the wind industry, announcing that it may soon oppose  wind projects in the Mojave desert due to interference with military radar tracking aircraft.

The revelation raises questions over whether wind turbines also interfere with "avian radar" that wind companies claim could save birds from the blades.

Environmentalists now fret that eliminating military bases may result in project siting in areas where threats to wildlife and habitat may be even worse. 

May 25, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The Banner Fire has now scorched 3,100 acres and cost $575,000 in fire suppression costs.

“Full control of the Banner Fire is expected on May 30th, and firefighters still have 12 miles of fireline to construct,” said Roxanne Provaznik at Cal-Fire. “The fire is burning primarily in grass and light brush. Strong erratic winds are driving the forward spread of the fire, poor road access, steep and rugged terrain hampers the firefighting efforts.”

Mandatory evacuation of the Stage Coach Trails RV Resort was lifted as of 6:00 p.m. State Parks resources, archaeological, cultural and sensitive habitat remain threatened.

All had criminal records, face new charges

May 25, 2012 (Poway) – San Diego Sheriff’s office has revealed details in a high-speed chase that ended in a crash in Poway on May 22.  Two of the occupants were on probation while a third had an outstanding arrest warrant; all now face new charges.

May 25, 2012 (San Diego)--A red flag warning has been issued for the desert, with high wind warnings and possible rain forecast for other areas across East County this weekend. Get the latest weather update from Your Online Weather with Gary Kelley.

 Update 5:10 p.m. - The forward spread of this fire has been stopped. 

May 25, 2012 (Dulzura) – A brush fire titled the "Pink Fire" is burning in the 17000 block of Highway 94 near Sycamore Canyon in the Dulzura area. 

“It’s burning under power lines,” Battalion Chief Nick Schuler informed ECM.  Currently the fire is approximately three acres in size, burning in a canyon to the east.

May 25, 2012 (Shelter Valley)--The Banner Fire flared up at the eastern end this afternoon, prompting mandatory evacuation of the Stage Coach Trails RV Resort at the south end of the Shelter Valley community.