March 6, 2013 (Pine Valley) -- Next of kin has not been notified regarding the death of a Pine Valley man who died in a mobilehome fire back on January 12, 2013.  According to the Medical Examiner, the victim was born August 21, 1945, though his name has not been released.

The charred remains of the victim, who was white, were found after the fire destroyed a residence at 27521 Olde Highway 80, space 82, in Pine Valley. Cal Fire personnel responded to the fire after receiving calls and found the body inside after dousing the fire.

January 27, 2013 (Pine Valley)--Beginning Friday, February 1, the Pine Valley Sheriff's Substation can be found at a new location as construction on a new substation gets underway. The temporary address of the substation is 28914 Old Highway 80 Suite 106, Pine Valley, CA 91962 with the same telephone number at (619) 473‐8774.

January 22, 2013 (El Cajon)--CAL FIRE/San Diego will be burning approximately 100 acres in the Corte Madera Ranch area near the community of Pine Valley. The burn will take place tomorrow 1/23/2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. as part of a Vegetation Management Program. Smoke will be visible in many parts of East County.

Cal Fire and East County Magazine offer heating safety reminders for cold weather

January 13, 2013 (Pine Valley) – Firefighters battling a blaze at a mobilehome park in the 27500 block of Old Highway 80 in Pine Valley last night discovered a man’s body inside after extinguishing the blaze. Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson detectives have ruled out foul play.

Cal Fire spokesman Mike Mohler told ECM that investigators are looking at several potential causes, including the possibility that the victim may have perished due to an old or improperly used heating device in last night’s sub-freezing temperatures.

Here are important safety tips to stay warm  and safe during cold weather:

January 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest will conduct prescribed burning from January 15, 2013 through June 30, 2013 when weather and fuel moisture conditions permit.  This vegetation removal is for the purpose of hazardous fuels reduction, community defense zone maintenance and forest health.  The prescribed burning will take place at various locations on the District including Palomar Mountain, Ramona, San Diego Country Estates, Sunshine Summit and Aguanga.  The projects will cover approximately 700 acres.  Some drifting smoke may be visible during the period of burning.

Residents and other public may call Battalion Chief Tim Gray at 619-902-1414 for more information.

July 3, 2012 (Pine Valley) – A hiker bitten by a rattlesnake on the Corte Madera Ranch South of Interstate 8 in Pine Valley has been rescued.

Cal Fire units responded to a call at 1:15 p.m. from a female who dialed 911 from a cell phone and provided her GPS location to the dispatcher, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler said.  According to ECM news partner 10 News, the woman was hiking with a friend, who blew a whistle to help rescuers find the location. 

Story by Miriam Raftery, photos by Billy Ortiz

February 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A late season storm left a dusting of snow across rural and mountain areas in East County, dipping as low as Descanso along I-8. 

Tomorrow and Thursday, a chill Alaskan weather system is expected to dip snow levels to 2500-3500 feet, with heavier snowfall reaching 10 inches atop Mount Laguna.

January 3, 2011 (Pine Valley) – Cal-Fire will be conducting a prescribed burn today through January 7 in the Rancho Corte Madera area southwest of Pine Valley.

Approximately 200 acres of brush will be burned as part of a vegetation management plan aimed at protecting surrounding communities.

September 21, 2011 (Pine Valley) -  A power outage has left some Pine Valley residents without power, SDG&E's outage map indicates. According to Incident Page Network, power is expected to be restored by approximately 12 noon.

September 14, 2011 (Pine Valley) – The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a boil water order for Cibbetts Flats Campground at Kitchen Creek Road & Fred Canyon Road in Pine Valley.  The drinking water system has tested present for total coliform bacteria and absent for E. coli.

Update: View a video with this year's parade excerpts and historic information on Pine Valley. youtu.be/Tt2745YDmy0

July 21, 2011 (Pine Valley) – If you’re looking for a festival that epitomizes small town America, mark your calendars for Pine Valley Days on July 29-30. Events include a deep-pit barbecue, parade, live music with starlight dancing, craft fair, horseshoe tournament, kids' activities, prizes and much more.

Update July 22, 2011 5 p.m. - A fatality has been confirmed.  No further details are yet available.

July 22, 2011 (Pine Valley) 12:20 a.m. – More than an hour after a car plunged off an embankment, authorities on scene are still awaiting for a Life Flight helicopter to arrive. The accident is now being described as a possible fatality.

June 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Expect traffic delays if you are traveling on I-8 through east County this afternoon. A two-car rollover on I-8 east at Pine Valley Road sparked a brush fire, forcing 150 cars to be turned around at Sunrise Highway and diverted onto Old Highway 80. The U.S. Forest Service is currently mopping up that blaze.
 

In addition, on I-8 near Crestwood Drive, further east, a vehicle has rolled three times and is on its side in the center divider, according to the San Diego SIG Alerts website.

May 3, 2011 (Pine Valley) 12:17 p.m. -- CHP has just received a report of a bridge-jumper at the Pine Valley Bridge on I-8.  It is unclear whether the individual has actually jumped; use caution if you are driving in this area as a freeway closure may occur.

February 28, 2011 (Pine Valley ) –“This is a grim example of human smugglers’ disregard for life. They place profits over life,” Ralph Desio, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) public affairs specialist said of a tragedy this weekend.

Acting on a report from the San Diego Sheriff of eight people lost in a winter snowstorm near Sunrise Highway in the Pine Valley Area, the CBP activated its Border Search Trauma and Rescue Team.

View the Pine Creek trail video: http://www.facebook.com/v/1334760865455

"I would rate this trail as a five-star experience...The trail is very scenic, with a chance to see wild turkey, cattle ranging in the canyon, and perhaps even a mountain lion."

By Billy Ortiz

February 20, 2011 (Pine Valley) -- As I cross the the tallest bridge in San Diego County standing  450 feet tall high above Pine Creek, my anticipation grows. Soon my friends and I will be soon be hiking under this massive bridge, which was built in 1974. The Coronado Bridge, at 200 feet tall, would easily fit underneath it.

February 19, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Heavy snowfall is making travel hazardous on East County roadways in mountain areas, resulting in numerous accidents and traffic delays tonight.

“The Cuyamaca area has received between 6 to 8 inches of snow and Mt. Laguna more than that,” Cal Fire’s Mike Mohler informed ECM in an e-mail. He advised people to avoid visiting these areas unless prepared.

February 19, 2011 (Pine Valley) – Two separate serious accidents have just occurred on both sides of I-8 near the Pine Valley exit.

At 4:16 p.m., CHP reports that a small sedan spun out and rolled onto the center divider. A pedestrian was hit on the westbound side. Two additional vehicles then spun out.
 

The second accident occurred nearly simultaneously on eastbound I-8 just east of the Pine Valley bridge around 4:15 p.m. At least two vehicles have rolled over and injuries are reported, with one vehicle on its roof as of 4:21 p.m.

February 14, 2011 (Pine Valley) – Cal-Fire is conducted a controlled burn today and tomorrow in Corte Madera Ranch near Pine Valley.

Smoke may be highly visible throughout much of East County.

The Alpine Community Network reports a controlled burn is also underway today in the Japatul Valley area.

February 7, 2011 (San Diego's East County)-- Cal-Fire will be conducting a controlled burn today and tomorrow south of Pine Valley on the Corte Madera Ranch (south of I-8).

January 30, 2011 (Pine Valley) – Cal-Fire/San Diego County Fire Authority will conduct a controlled burn starting at Corte Mader Road near Pine Valley starting Monday, January 31 through Wednesday, February 2.

December 14, 2010 (Pine Valley) – Two injured patients were transported by helicopter to a local hospital following a head-on, off-road collision on Bear Valley Truck Trail five miles south of I-8 in Pine Valley this evening.

November 24, 2010 (Descanso) -- The Descanso Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest is conducting 300-500 acres of prescribed burning in the south eastern part of San Diego County. The projects are located near the communities of Alpine, Pine Valley, and Mt Laguna. Prescribed burning will be conducted from November of this year, through June of 2011 as weather and fuel conditions permit.

November 8, 2010 (Pine Valley) – Cal-Fire will be burning brush piles on the Corte Madera Ranch south of Pine Valley during the next two days. Smoke will be visible from through the eastern portions of San Diego County. Weather permitting, the burns will begin around 10 a.m. and should be completed by 2 p.m. both days as part of an ongoing vegetation management plan, said Nick Schuler, Cal-Fire battalion chief.

September 15, 2010 (Pine Valley) – An under-age teen driver took his grandmother’s Chevy Tahoe without permission, then picked up several friends at Mountain Empire in Pine Valley, ECM news partner 10 News reports. The joy ride ended tragically. Traveling at a high rate of speed, the driver missed a curve and the vehicle rolled over three times, according to the California Highway Patrol.

July 28, 2010 (Pine Valley) – The 40th annual Pine Valley Days takes place on July 30th and 31st in this normally quiet mountain town in East County to benefit charitable causes supported by the Mountain Empire Mens Club. Two full days of activities include a parade, rides, barbecue dinner, live music and dancing.

The Pine Valley parade rolls out at 9 a.m. on Saturday the 31st. This year’s parade will feature Herbie the Luv Bug, the Pad Squad, the Cameron Highland Pipe Squad, and much more. The celebration continues after the parade, culminating in a deep-pit barbecue dinner, live music and dancing from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday night.

East County News Service

July 22, 2010 (Pine Valley) -- Sheriff Bill Gore announced that the body of a man has been located south of Interstate 8 and just west of the Pine Valley Bridge. The discovery was made this morning shortly after 9:00 a.m. by Sheriff’s Search and Rescue volunteers.

A video released late today by the Sheriff indicates the remains are those of a “previously missing person.” The video shows a cadaver-sniffing beagle apparently locating the body amid rubble and boulders at the base of a steep, rocky slope. View the video. www.youtube.com/watch

July 7, 2010 (Pine Valley) -- A man is dead of injuries sustained in a rollover accident on I-8 near the Mt. Laguna exit near Pine Valley this afternooon.  The accident caused a small brush fire that was swiftly contained by U.S. Forest Service firefighters.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: CAL-FIRE Battalion Chief Nick Schuler

July 17, 2009 (Pine Valley) – A car plunged off eastbound I-8 one mile west of the Pine Valley bridge, rolling 200 feet over the side late this afternoon.  The accident trapped inside the four-door, champagne-colored vehicle.  

July 1, 2009 (Pine Valley) – Happy Days are here again -- Major’s Diner is turning 50! To celebrate reaching the half-century mark, Pine Valley’s ‘50s style diner is hosting a sock hop,  Fonzie look-alike contest, and showing off vintage ‘50s cars.  In addition, prices will be rolled back to the 1959 menu—with 29 cent hamburgers and 10 cent coffee all day on Saturday, July 11th.