By Miriam Raftery

June 20, 2016 (Campo)--Cal Fire has ordered mandatory evacuations of Star Ranch, Forest Gate, Canyon City, Dogpatch and Cowboy Ranch in the Campo area due to the Border Fire.

Scanner traffic indicates an advisory evacuation in Lake Morena.

A red flag alert is in effect per the National Weather Service. 

Below is more info from the Sheriff earlier today on the fire that has scorched 1900 acres and is 5% contained:

Update 10 p.m. The fire is 5% contained and a firefighter has been injured, CalFire reports. An emergency overnight shelter is open at Campo Elementary School, 1654 Buckman Springs Rd.in Campo.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: air tanker battles the Border Fire, by Leon Thompson

June 19, 2016 (Potrero) --As of 7:20 tonight, the fast-growing Border Fire has charred 1,500 acres and led to mandatory evacuation orders for the entire town of Potrero, per Cal Fire.  Structures are threatened. 

Residents fleeing the Border Fire can now go to these evacuation centers:  Campo Community Center ( Cool Zone )  at 300 Sheridan Rd, Campo Elementary School ( Red Cross Shelter ) at 1654 Buckman Springs Rd, or the Dulzura Community Center at 1136 Community Building Road off State Route 94 (note corrected address). This information has been verified through Red Cross and Campo Community Center employees.  The Sheriff reports a third evacuation center opened at Campo Elementary School, 1654 Buckman Springs Road, Campo.

If you need emergency assistance in evacuation, call 9-1-1. If you need additional information, check the San Diego County Emergency website at www.sdcountyemergency.com or call the San Diego Sheriff's Department non-emergency line at 858-565-5200.  For help with large animal evacuations due to , call the San Diego County Animal Services at (619) 236-2341.  Follow additoinal updates on Twitter at #BorderFire.

Road closures in effect on Highway 94 are changing rapidly as the fire moves.  Get the latest traffic and road closure information at https://cad.chp.ca.gov/Traffic.aspx.  Here are closures as of now:

By Miriam Raftery

June 17, 2016 (San Diego's East County) -- A reader e-mailed us to point out that many of the Cool Zones listed on the County's map are not open Sundays. So we did some research to find a few more options on some cool places to go, such as shopping malls, bowling alleys, ice rinks, movie theatres, casinos, aquatic centers, libraries and more. 

We also have some tips on how to beat the heat at home and keep your cool. Plan ahead, since SDG&E says Flex Alerts (temporary power outages) are possible during the extreme heat starting Sunday. 

Check out our list below of cool places  that are open Sunday and beyond:

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

June 15, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- San Diego County Fire can now dispatch up to four new quick-attack vehicles to assist CAL FIRE operations when a brush fire breaks out in a hard-to-reach part of the backcountry.

UPDATE:  THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED DUE TO ORGANIZERS HELPING WITH FIRE RELIEF EFFORTS. 

East County News Service

June 11, 2016 (Deerhorn Valley) — Residents of Deerhorn Valley will be holding a true Americana-style parade on Monday, July 4^th starting at 10 a.m.  Residents of this rural community south of Jamul are invited to take a tractor, lasso a llama, hop on a horse, drive a donkey, walk with a wagon, jump aboard a Jeep or just walk on two feet, festooned in patriotic red, white and blue.  The parade will include Clydesdale horses, an antique fire engine and live drumming.  Spectators are encouraged to bring flags, drums, rattles and shakers.

East County Magazine Show is among programming knocked off air; funds urgently needed to restore broadcasting

June 7,2016 (San Diego)—Community radio station KNSJ 89.1 FM Descanso has been temporarily knocked off the air after a break-in and theft. KNSJ's transmitter site on Monument Peak in the Laguna Mountains was broken into, with vandalism intentionally disabled broadcasting on Thursday, June 2^nd at 7:05 p.m. PST. The immediate impact of this crime is loss of the FM broadcast and service as an emergency alert system. KNSJ continues to stream 24/7 online, but not over the public airways. Because this break-in occurred on federal land and interrupted a licensed FCC full-power FM station, this forced entry is a considered a federal crime.

KNSJ is making a public appeal to raise $5000 to get the station back on the air.

Donations are needed to replace equipment, upgrade a security system and the speedy return of this non-profit radio station to regular programming. Tax-deductible donations can be made at KNSJ.org KNSJ is an all volunteer station relying primarily on donations.

County News Service

June 6, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- San Diego County farmers, ranchers and businesses may seek some relief from the drought through two loan programs.

East County News Service

June 6, 2016 (Campo) – The heat wave on June 2^nd shattered records across southern California.   Here in East County, Campo reached 101, breaking a 46-year record of 99 set in 1970.  (Records have been kept since 1948 for Campo.)

“Save Alpine High” GoFundMe site launched to pay for legal appeal

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2016 (Alpine) — The San Diego County Taxpayers Association is speaking out against the Grossmont Union-High School District for failing to honor the intent of voters who supported Proposition U.  The group’s new leader, Haney Hong, has also sharply criticized the GUHSD for spending taxpayer money on legal action while refusing to fund construction of an Alpine high school.

East County News Service

May 27, 2016 (Dulzura) – A collision on State Route 94 near Lucky Six Truck Trail in Dulzura has left a man dead and three people injured, including an 8-year-old child.

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Boulevard) – A 24-year-old man died Saturday night, May 20^th after he lost control of his vehicle on I-8 West near McCain Valley Road in Boulevard. The Infinity G35 veered off the highway and rolled down a steep embankment.

East County News Service

May 25, 2016 (Alpine) - Alpine Business Networking Association (ABNA) is holding a Garden Party Mixer on Thursday, June 9th at 5:30 p.m. at Alpine Garden & Gifts located at 2442 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine. The evening’s highlights will include a delicious barbeque dinner and speakers Kathy Matranga (water-wise plant suggestions and grass replacement) and Frank Sturniolo (“Reach for Life”).

East County News Service

May 19, 2016 (Spring Valley) - Cali Comfort BBQ and Sports Bar in Spring Valley will host a fundraiser for Eduardo Cano and his family on Friday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

East County News Service

May 10, 2016 (Alpine) – You’re invited to the grand opening of the new Alpine library, a branch of the County library system.  The opening ceremony for the $10.7 million library will be held on Saturday, May 21^st at 10 a.m. at 1725 Alpine Blvd. in downtown Alpine. 

Update: The deceased has been identified as 18-year-old James Will, a Mountain Empire football star, East County Sports reports.

By Miriam Raftery

May 7, 2016 (La Posta) — A Campo man driving a 2004 Acura TSX was reported missing yesterday at 12:30 p.m. to the California Highway Patrol and Sheriff  after failing to reach his destination in Pine Valley, where he planned to pick up his great-grandmother at 6 a.m. yesterday morning.