Story and Photos by Josh Stotler



August 12, 2024 (Spring Valley)--A vegetation fire threatened homes on Millar Ranch Road north of Millar Anita Ln in Spring Valley today. Some residents were ordered to evacuated and others asked to shelter in place amid flying ash and debris, with firefighting vehicles lining the roadway. Emergency responders helped escort evacuating residents to safety while crews worked to bring the blaze under control.

The fire was first reported at 1:24 pm and crews responded to find a fire in dense vegetation moving at a moderate rate of spread. Homes on Millar Ranch Rd were immediately threatened and more resources were ordered. Air and ground resources worked under a unified fire command to attack this fire head on and keep the loss of life and property to zero.

Cal Fire crews lit a back fire to eliminate fuel between the head of the fire and houses.

One homeowner, Grace Russo, stayed behind to help save her home. “I sent my daughter and my 90 year old mother to safety and I stayed behind with my labs,” she said of the family's dogs.

Source: San Diego County News Service

August 4, 2024 (Spring Valley) --The County’s Tuberculosis Control Program is working in close collaboration with Grossmont Union High School District to notify students, staff and volunteers potentially exposed to tuberculosis (TB) for four months during the second semester of the 2023-24 school year at Mount Miguel High School in Spring Valley.

The dates of potential exposure are from Feb. 1 to June 4, 2024.   

TB is an airborne disease that is transmitted from person-to-person through inhalation of the bacteria from the air. The bacteria are spread when someone sick with TB coughs, speaks, sings or breathes. People with frequent and prolonged indoor exposure to a person who is sick with TB should get tested.  

Effective treatments are available to cure people who are sick from active TB. It is especially important for people with symptoms of active TB and those who are immunocompromised to see a medical provider to rule out active TB disease and to discuss treatment. 

By Miriam Raftery

June 16, 2024 (Spring Valley) – A family that lost their home in a house fire Thursday on Dictionary Hill is searching for four missing pets—three dogs and a cat.

The home, located on La Mesa Avenue near Date Street in Spring Valley was destroyed. The blaze broke out around 6:30 p.m. June 13.  The family was not at home, though ironically the homeowner was golfing nearby and saw the smoke, not realizing his own house was in flames, CBS 8 reports.

According to San Miguel Fire Battalion Chief Roddey Blunt, the home’s hillside location made it challenging to contain the fire.  Windows blew out and wind drove flames through the residence, he said.

Update 3:35 p.m.: Evacuation orders have been lifted.

June 7, 2024 -- Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued in Spring Valley due to a structure fire that spread into brush.  The evacuations are ordered for the area that is:

North of Omega St., Jamacha Blvd. and Ivanho St.

South of Citrus Tree Lane

East of Galopago St., Lemon Ave., and Maya St.

West of Sweetwater Springs Blvd.

San Miguel Fire Department officials told ABC 10News that a structure fire first erupted in the 9800 block of Ivanho Street. Strong winds then blew embers towards a field about a half-mile away and ignited the brush fire.More homes are immediately threatened. Residents are urged to leave now due to an immediate threat to life. The area is closed to public access.

By Miriam Raftery

April 17, 2024 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s deputies from the Rancho San Diego Station responded to a call yesterday morning reporting that someone was trying to break into a residence in the 800 block of La Presa in Spring Valley. Deputies entered and found a female victim with head trauma.

“Deputies immediately began life saving measures until relieved by paramedics. Unfortunately, the victim passed away on scene” says Lieutenant Michael Krugh.  She has been identified as Ashley Bird, 35.

The suspect, her husband, Christopher Bird,39,  was later found deceased in a vehicle.His body was found by law enforcement in Orange County. 

Source: Spring Valley Community Alliance

February 22, 2024 (Spring Valley, CA) -- Spring Valley residents applaud Tuesday's approval of FEMA aid for those affected by the January 22 rainstorm, but the community is already taking action to support recovery efforts. A coalition of area churches, community organizations, and residents led by the Spring Valley Community Alliance have partnered to open a site at Spring Valley Community Church to collect and distribute donations for those affected. 

A donation site located at 3310 Bancroft Drive, Spring Valley will open Saturday February 24 from 10am to Noon. The site's regular hours will be Mondays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. to Noon.

While the waters receded quickly from the thousand-year flood, more than 200 Spring Valley homes were left badly impacted. Cars, furniture, appliances, and other essential belongings were left severely damaged or destroyed.  

"Many Spring Valley residents were left with the clothes on their backs and the items they could grab as they attempted to escape the rising waters," said Chris Pierce, Vice President of the Spring Valley Community Alliance. "There are physical needs that our neighbors have beyond what the County Resource Center set up at the Spring Valley Library could provide."

Source: County News Service

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

February 3, 2023 (San Diego) --  The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 30, 2024, took new actions to help people in communities flooded by the Jan. 22, 2024, torrential rains, including putting into place temporary additional tenant protection measures. The approved ordinance prohibits people who were affected by the floods from being evicted without just cause. The ordinance also restricts certain rent increases on eligible properties from January 22, 2024, to March 30, 2024.

The flood affected areas specified in the ordinance include residential units located in the following ZIP codes: 92102, 92104, 92105, 92111, 92113, 92114, 92115, (San Diego); 91977 (Spring Valley); 91950 (National City);91945 (Lemon Grove); and 92118 (Coronado).

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

January 26, 2024 (Spring Valley) - St. Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Spring Valley has been a place of worship for Ukrainians across San Diego since 1960. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, the small church has welcomed and helped many Ukrainian refugees—and has also gathered humanitarian relief supplies to send to war-torn Ukraine.

East County News Service

Source: Christopher Pierce, Chair,  Spring Valley Community Planning Group 

December 10, 2023 (Spring Valley) -- The Spring Valley Community Planning Group advises San Diego County regarding planning and land use matters. The group’s responsibilities include discussion, voting, and advising the County on decisions regarding construction projects or just changes to commercial and residential properties. 

By Miriam Raftery

Screenshot of video from  ECM news partner NBC 7: Authorities transport an injured patient from the scene.

November 19, 2023 (Spring Valley) – Five people were taken to a hospital last night with gunshot injuries after being shot in the backyard of a home in the  9000 block of Ildica Street in Spring Valley.  Two children were also injured, suffering burns that authorities believe were caused by the shooter throwing fireworks to mask the sounds of gunshots.

The dead-end street was cordoned off last night while authorities searched for a male suspect, who remains at large. No description was provided by authorities; scanner traffic indicated the suspect was wearing black clothing.

By Branda Gorgies

Photos from Branda Gorgies, Brenda Ramirez and Creative Commons via Google Images

September 6, 2023 (Spring Valley) -  Teachers at Steele Canyon High School, a charter school in the Grossmont Union High School District, are seeking a salary increase because many of them feel they’re not being paid a competitive salary. On August 16, at the high school’s library, Steele Canyon’s independent governing board held a meeting with public comment from five teachers. On Monday this week, students held a walkout to show support for the teachers. 

East County News Service

July 11, 2023 (Spring Valley) - Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the Laurel & Hardy fan organization, present their August program, "Double Your Pleasure" on Saturday, August 19 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Spring Valley.