Bystander recounts efforts to help rescue survivors from burning home

By Miriam Raftery and Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Nadin and Tom Abbott also contributed to this report.

Photo, left: Screenshot off video by ECM news partner 10 News

October 11, 2021 (Santee) – A plane has crashed near Santana High School close to the intersection of Greencastle and Jeremy, setting homes nearby on fire.

Two fatalities are confirmed and two others have been transported to a hospital with injuries. 

A temporary evacuation point has been set up at the Cameron Family YMCA at 10123 Riverwalk Drive, Santee, for families displaced by the crash.

Santana High tweeted that all students are safe and a secure campus order has been lifted.Students are being allowed to leave if they have no afternoon classes.

An ECM reporter witnessed body parts on roofs and scattered across the neighborhood, adding to the trauma facing residents.

Stephanie Diaz, another neighbor, says the crash occurred at 12:12. "It was just like in the movies," she said of the sound, adding that the whole house shook. 

David Witthoft said he used to work on military jets as a mechanic. He said he was in the house when "I heard the pilot go full throttle, and then I heard it hit the ground" with a loud boom. His house filled with smoke and the stench of burning debris, he added.

Numerous homes in the area suffered damage ranging from blown-out windows to cracked solar panels, in addition to two homes destroyed by fire.

Hillcreek Elementary also alerted parents/ guardians that they were "safe and sound."

San Diego Sheriff asks that the public avoid the area. A Hazmat team has been dispatched.

There are reports of a box truck also damaged by the crash.

East County News Service

October 5, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Rex A. Cole Sr., a PGA golf professional and instructor at several local golf courses, passed away on August 25. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2021 (Lakeside) – Looking for some spooky thrills?  The Lakeside community has a trio of spooktacular Halloween events:  Trail of Terror at the Lakeside River Park, Spooky Camp-o-Ween at Lake Jennings, and Trick or Treat on Maine Avenue.  

Here are the haunting details:

By Mike Allen

Photo:  the old Pure Flo site. Seven of the 10 acres will be developed to 80 condos and called Laurel Heights.  The part fronting Mission Gorge, 3.3 acres, will likely be developed for housing, but owners haven’t signed any deal yet.

September 9, 2021 (Santee) -- Santee is doing its part to create much-needed, new housing.

Last month, the Santee City Council approved an 80-unit condominium project on a seven-acre parcel that makes up most of what’s called the Pure Flo Water site at 7739 Mission Gorge Road.

By Miriam Raftery

August 25, 2021 (Lakeside) – A 23-year-old man from St. Louis, Missouri died at the scene of a single-vehicle crash on State Route 67 south of Foster Truck Trail in Lakeside last night.

East County News Service

August 14, 2021 (Lakeside) - Get your bucking broncos ready--the 57th annual Lakeside Rodeo returnss August 27-29 at the Lakeside Rodeo Arena and Facility.  The fun gets started on August 27 at 7:30 p.m. and features bull fighting, barrel racing, a rodeo clown and more.

By Ken and Chris Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit speaks at the funeral for Dan Walters, a police officer and former San Diego Padres catcher. Image from Facebook

August 11, 2021 (San Diego) - It was important to Dan Walters not to be forgotten.

No appointments necessary for birth, death & marriage certificates to meet pent-up pandemic & back-to-school demand, and for customers without internet access and/or credit/debit cards

By: Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Grand Opening of Santee location, March 12, 2020 (Photo Credit: Michael Uyeda)

August 10, 2021 (San Diego) - San Diego County Recorder's offices will be offering expanded office hours with a Saturday “no appointment necessary” walk-in day on August 14, 2021, to meet pent-up pandemic period demand for birth, death, and marriage certificates (all vital records). Currently, Ernie Dronenburg requires appointments during the week, but this event will not require appointments for what he has dubbed “Vital Records Day.” The special Saturday walk-in services are offered at the County Assessor/Recorder/Clerk's Chula Vista, San Marcos, and Santee locations.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Photos by Farima Tabbrizi of FT Images.

August 7, 2021 (Lakeside) -- CEO Brad Weber, the force behind Local Umbrella Media Group, held a fashion show fundraiser for the non-profit---The B.A.G. Networking "Business Associates Group" at Lakeside’s Trevi Hills Winery on August 4^th.

The fashion show was presented by a local designer, Dawn Sebaugh of WALA – Wear Art Live Art. Food was available from Nori’s Nosh Catering with charcuterie cones just one of their offerings.

“Over 200 guests enjoyed delicious bites paired with Trevi Hill’s fabulous assortments of wines as they were enveloped in the breathtaking 360-degree views. Invitees danced into the sunset at this picturesque hidden gem while helping us support charity guest The B.A.G. Networking 501c3,” said Weber via email.  “The B.A.G. Networking "Business Associates Group"‪ is made up of volunteers that generously give their time and efforts to help make a difference in the community – with 100% of B.A.G. proceeds going to worthy local causes.”

Update: All lanes open reports Caltrans San Diego, and Fire Scanner reports “[r]esources will be on scene mopping up the fire for the next couple of hours.”

By Jonathan Goetz

August 1, 2021 (Santee) – A vegetation fire nick-named the #MissionFire has closed the two westbound State Route 52 lanes at Fanita Drive, reports Caltrans San Diego.

@SDCountyFires broke the story on twitter and reports that crews have upgraded to a “high wildland response,” firefighter lingo for a serious response and a sign that this fire is being taken very seriously and may pose a great danger to the surrounding community.

The fire burned at least one acre and "multiple explosions" were heard in the area, behind Sprouts at 9361 Mission Gorge Road, they report.

This is a breaking story and updates may be posted above or in a new article.

If you have photos, details, or an eyewitness account on this or any local emergency please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org

Thanks to the Grossmont Healthcare District and San Diego Regional Fire Foundation for their generous sponsorship of our East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts!

By Miriam Raftery

Memorial service and fund to help family of Anthony Cano announced

July 29, 2021 (Lakeside) – Anthony Cano, 27, dreamed of being a firefighter from an early age.  For the past five years, he was living his dream as a firefighter and paramedic with the Lakeside Fire Protection District, while enjoying family time with his two children, ages 7 and 2.  But on July 8, he passed away unexpectedly at his home in Temecula of undisclosed causes.

East County News Service

July 26, 2021 (Lakeside) – The Lakeside Community Planning Group has an opening for a new member. Requirements are:

• Must be 18 years of age and a registered voter in the County of San Diego
• Must live within the LCPG boundary (map located on the LCPG website (https://lcpg.weebly.com/mapslinks.html)
• Must be able to attend all monthly meetings (held on the 1st Wednesday of every month)
• Experience with planning and land issues is helpful but not required

For more information, contact lakesidecpg@gmail.com. 

SDSO advising residents of Parc One to shelter in place

East County News Service

Photo credit: Google and in-house

July 19, 2021 (Santee) -- The initial response to the Parc Fire (also appearing in some places spelled Park Fire) in Santee appears to have been successful, and poses little danger to neighbors. Parc One residents are being asked to shelter in place.

SD County Fire Scanner broke news of the fire and its early containment on twitter at approximately 2:20 p.m. this afternoon July 19, and and the fire is (almost) out before it even started. They report that firefighting crews expect to be "mopping up" over the next 2-3 hours.

This essay shared third prize in the East County Leadership Council (ECLC) 2021 COVID-19 essay contest. Prize money has been provided through the generosity of ECLC donors and a grant from the Foundation for Economic Justice.

By Julia Baxter

West Hills High School student

July 11, 2021 (San Diego's East County) -- Even if you were not infected by COVID-19, no person escaped being impacted by it. The virus infiltrated every aspect of life, from having to instinctively grab a mask before leaving the house to causing national lockdowns. Life revolving around the coronavirus is starting to feel like the new normal. Students are one particular group that’s accustomed to persisting in the face of adversity, but the latest challenge has been difficult to adjust to for many, and it’s sink or swim. 

After experiencing almost a full school year in the midst of a pandemic, the unpredictability of life is beginning to grow old. Upperclassmen deal with colleges changing their requirements for applications on a monthly basis. They’re anxious about tests like the SAT and ACT being canceled and rescheduled constantly, and fight to get in extracurriculars to make up for lost time during the lockdown. Underclassmen are either freshmen who didn’t finish their last semester of middle school and began their first year of high school without seeing their teachers in person until September, or they are sophomores who did not get the chance to finish adjusting to high school expectations due to having their school year cut short.

By Miriam Raftery

Fireworks are back—along with many traditional Fourth of July festivities in San Diego’s inland region, from parades to picnics to patriotic music, rides, games, and more. Find Indepedence Day events and/or fireworks in El Cajon, Julian,Poway, Ramona, Santee and Valley Center.