By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – AB 1819, a measure by Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center) would authorize counties to create special infrastructure financing districts in high or very high fire hazard severity zones.  These districts would fund wildfire mitigation apparatus and infrastructure including new heavy equipment to clear vegetation, create firebreaks, and harden utility infrastructure against wildfires.

 “As climate change progresses, our state is affected by longer, more intense, and increasingly hazardous wildfires. In San Diego alone, almost one-fourth of all wildfires start from the combustion of roadside vegetation by vehicles. It is crucial to have the proper firefighting equipment to prevent wildfires,” a statement by Waldron in the  Senate Floor analysis.“Obtaining funding to increase prevention response and fire-fighting equipment. backcountry areas has been difficult. The creation of an infrastructure financing district for this purpose will raise the necessary funding without the need to raise taxes.”

The bill has passed the Assembly unanimously (with several members absent) and is currently awaiting action in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  All legislative business must be concluded by August 31, the last day of the legislative session.

Update July 6, 2025 8 a.m.--The fire is 95% contained, per Cal Fire.

Update July 4, 4:30 p.m. -- All evacuation warnings are lifted and all roads are open. Cal Fire asks that people please drive carefully. Smoke is still visible, but there is no danger to the public at this point, per County Emergency Services.

Update July 3, 8:30 a.m.  The #McCainFire has burned 1,352 acres and is 50% contained. Evacuation warnings remain in place for portions of Boulevard as firefighters continue working in rugged terrain, though evacuation orders were lifted.The Red Cross has closed the evacuation center at Golden Acorn.

Update July 2, 3:30 p.m.-- De Anza evacuation order has been lifted. Residents can return home but some nearby areas remain under an evacuation warning; these residents are asked to remain vigilant since the fire is still burning. To see the zones for the evacuation warning, follow this link.

Update July 2, 8:00 a.m.-- I-8 West has reopened.  The fire has burned 1,000 acres and is 5% contained.

June 22, 2024 (El Cajon) -- East County Dining Club invites you to a Mideast Feast at Tarbosh restaurant (1142 East Main St., El Cajon) featuring Iraqi cuisine on Thursday, July 18 at 6:30 p.m. to benefit East County Magazine and East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts. Savor a delicious buffet for just $22, support local journalism,and win prizes in our raffle.

RSVP to 619 698 7617 or editor@eastcountymagazine.org

Savor a delicious buffet dinner for just $22! (excludes tax and tip).

Includes kebobs, schwarma, falafel, mini pastry, koba, and salad, with chicken, beef and vegetarian options.

Win prizes! Raffle items include: Gift certificates to local restaurants and shops, massage/spa gift certificates, wine rack, wine lovers baskets, art, beach gear, jewelry, purses, coffee, gift baskets, books, Spookeasy event tickets/basket, and more!

Thanks to our sponsors:  Tarbosh Restaurant, Lemon Grove Bistro, Alvarado Institute of Skincare, Brody’s Burgers, Beach Hut Deli, Massage Envy, St. Madeline Sophie’s Gift Shop and Gallery, Surji Coffee, Maxwell’s House of Books, San Pasqual Winery, Jessyka Heredia, and more soon!

East County Wildfire & Emergengy Alerts

June 16, 2024 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- A brush fire in the In-Ko-Pah area has burned 30 acres at the boundary of Jacumba and Ocotillo, near the San Diego and Imperial County lines this afternoon. The #Inkopah5Fire is 20 percent contained and forward spread has been halted, per Cal Fire. On westbound I-8 just east of In-Ko-Pah, one lane is closed due to the fire.

Ben Schultz, owner of the Desert View Tower roadside landmark and Boulder Park on In-Ko-Pah, both on the National Registry of Historic Places, says he was told to evacuate after the fire started close to his home and businesses on In-Ko-Pah Road, but stayed trying to roundup his dogs and cats.

“High winds still making the fire out here seem rather scary,” he posted. Schultz said an RV brought to In-Ko-Pah Towing caught fire, igniting dry brush between I-8 and In-Ko-Pah Road.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

June 4,2024 (San Diego's East County) --The National Weather Service warns that hot conditions up to 113 degrees will be present for San Diego County's hgh deserts from 10 a.m. today until Friday at 9 p.m., with temperatures up to 103 degrees in lower desert regions.

Find a cool place to go and tips to beat the heat at www.coolzones.org and follow this advice from County Emergency Services:

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Dennis Mammana

May 24, 2024 (Borrego Springs) – Astronomy writer and night sky photographer Dennis Mammana snapped these stunning photos of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, which made a rare appearance over our region on May 11.  The photo,  left, taken from his backyard in the Anza-Borrego Desert, also shows the Milky Way.

“I aimed my camera with 14mm lens toward the east-southeast. The right (south) side of the frame shows the Milky Way as it appears on a normal night. The left (north) side shows how far southward the aurora extended that night, and how it nearly overwhelmed the Milky Way,”  Mammana told East County Magazine.

May 7, 2024 (Borrego Springs) – Mitchell Sterling sent in these dramatic images showcasing natural spectacles in the Anza-Borrego Desert.

The dramatic desert sunset  features lenticular clouds; the rainbow is over the San Ysidro Mountains on the western end of Borrego Springs..

By Bransen P. Harper

Photos by Bransen P. Harper and Patrick J. Watkins

April 3, 2024 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- Last week, I took a journey out east to a hotspot along the border where undocumented migrants cross over into the U.S. on a daily basis, near the small town of Jacumba Hot Springs and Desert View Tower. International border crossings here have increased over the last couple of years significantly, although the area has seen prevalent human traffic in prior decades.

Using a Google translation program and translators among the migrants,  program, my associate,  Patrick J. Watkins, and I interviewed and photographed several undocumented migrants, whose stories were interesting and diverse. We also spoke with local volunteers aiding the asylum-seekers.

Story and photos by Miriam Raftery

March 16,  2024 (Borrego Springs) – Those heavy winter rains have resulted in one of the most beautiful bloom seasons in recent memory in the Anza-Borrego Desert.  I visited earlier this month, finding the desert floor along Henderson Canyon Road bursting with colorful purple verbena, white primroses and yellow sunflowers.

Many of the most spectacular wildflower fields are not in the Anza-Borrego State Park, but just outside it on the outskirts of Borrego Springs.

Tips for your visit:

By Miriam Raftery

Image: CC via Bing

February 8, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – AT&T has filed an application asking the California Public Utilities Commission to end AT&T’s obligation to serve as a carrier of last resort (COLR) and cease maintaining land line telephone service. A map indicates this would include the entire San Diego region. If the CPUC approves the request,  land line service could end as early as six months later.

There are no in-person hearings in San Diego County, but you can voice your opinion in a virtual hearing March 19 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. or post online comments here.  

"If approved by the CPUC, over 580,000 affected AT&T customers would be left with fewer options in terms of choice, quality, and affordability," warns the Rural County Representatives of California. "Alternative services, such as VoIP and wireless, have no obligation to serve a customer or to provide equivalent services to AT&T landline customers, including no obligation to provide reliable access to 911 or Lifeline program discounts."

The proposal has drawn strong opposition from rural residents in East County and elsewhere in California, as well as consumer advocates who warn that ending land lines would leave many in rural or remote locations with no reliable phone service at all, since Internet VOIP phone service is not widely available in many places and some areas also lack cell phone connectivity. Even for those with cell service, land lines have proven life-saving options when cell towers have burned down during wildfires in places such as rural Potrero.