By Miriam Raftery

June 8, 2024 (Spring Valley) – Nora Vargas, Chair of the San Diego County Board of Superivsors, announced yesterday that she has rescinded approval of plans to build 150 sleeping cabins in Spring Valley, after hearing concerns of neighboring residents.

“I understand concerns expressed by residents about putting these cabins near schoolsand parks where children play,and believe that we can find better,more thoughtful solutions by working with affected commuities,” a statement from Vargas read in part.

Supervisors voted 4-0 in March (with Supervisor Joel Anderson absent) to approve building the sleeping cabins on  Jamacha Road.

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.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update 5:40 p.m.  -- Forward rate of spread has been stopped at 2 acres with bo damage to any structure. Firefighters will no continue to put out hotspots and strengthen control lines. Cal Fire praises homeowners for having defensible space, which helped save their residences.

June 4, 2024 (Potrero, CA) -- The #RanchFire has burned two acres after starting this afternoon in the 1000 block of Harris Ranch Road in Potrero's Bell Valley.  The fire is burning at a moderate rate of spread and has potential for 40 acres, per Cal Fire.

Structures are threatened, but firefighters are making good progress, according to the incident commander.

By Miriam Raftery

May 24, 2024 (Alpine)—By a unanimous vote and without discussion, the Sweetwater Authority board of directors approved restoring the floating fishing dock at Loveland Reservoir in Alpine. Audience members applauded after the votes were cast.

The dock was severely damaged in a January 2023 storm, shortly after the reservoir was drained to dead pool status, an action which left the fishing float on dry land and which also killed off fish, much to the dismay of residents and visitors.

Russell Walsh, who has long advocated for restoration of floating fishing dock, said the vote reflects “a travesty being corrected by persistent citizens and hopefully increasingly willing Sweetwater Directors and upper management.”

Update May 14, 2024:  This fire has been extinguished after charring 18 acres and destroying the home where it started.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

May 13, 2024 (Alpine)-- Cal Fire is responding to a brush fire, #Love21C, south of Loveland Reservoir in Alpine. The fire has burned 15 acres and is spreading at a moderate rate of speed, with potential for 100 acres, according to Cal Fire.  

The fire  started at  1900 Sloane Canyon Rd. and Loveland Reservoir and is zero percent contained, per the Watch Duty Ap.

East County News Service

May 9, 2024 (San Diego) – Governor Gavin Newsom has declared May 5-11 as “Wildfire Preparedness Week.”  Noting the increasingly challenging wildfire seasons due to climate change, Newsom says his administration has made historic investments to increase forest management and decrease catastrophic wildfire risks, such as buying state-of-the-art firefighting equipment and technology.

Now he’s asking all Californians to take steps to protect their properties by creating defensible space around homes, hardening homes, developing wildfire action plans and teaming up to join Fire Safe Councils and Firewise Communities, which work to regularly assess wildfire risk and prioritize actions to address those risks.

“All of us have an essential role in protecting ourselves, loved ones, and communities from wildfire,” the Governor says. “During Wildfire Preparedness Week, I encourage all Californians to visit ReadyForWildfire.org to learn about steps we can take to prepare for wildfire season and help prevent loss of life and property. Together, we can create a more fire resilient California.”  Find tips at https://readyforwildfire.org/.

To stay ready for a wildfire or natural disaster at any time, the California Fire Foundation has just relaunched its Firefighters on Your Side community preparedness program at FirefightersOnYourSide.org to help Californians prepare their homes with defensible space, make a 5-minute evacuation plan, pre-pack essentials, and print a master checklist. . 

Update May 7, 2024:  The Sheriff today announced that Paula Connolly has been found and is safe.  No other details were provided.

East County News Service

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2024 (Washington D.C)  – The Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act (H.R.6443) authored by Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48), passed the House of Representatives on April 10.

H.R.6443 incorporates 172 acres of land in San Diego’s East County region into the Jamul Indian Village Reservation, placing the land into tribal trust and preserving it for generations to come. This area also includes a 100-year-old church (photo, left, by Miriam Raftery) and cemetery where their tribal lineage has rested for generations.

The acreage is currently owned by the Jamul Indian Village and includes residential land for homes and council buildings, an ancestral cemetery, and the tribe’s only road for transportation.

If approved by the Senate and signed by President Joe Biden, this would be a dramatic expansion of Jamul’s tribal lands, since the existing reservation has only six acres,  most of which is occupied by the tribe’s casino and a hotel under construction.

Alpine Fire Protection District invites public to event April 4

Source:  San Diego Regional Fire Foundation

Photo, left: Alpine Fire Protection District's new wood chipper

April 3, 2024 (San Diego) – The San Diego Regional Fire Foundation and the San Diego River Conservancy are pleased to announce $378,958 in funding for 13 Fire Safe Councils in the Conservancy’s watershed area and a new chipper for the Alpine Fire Protection District. 

Alpine Fire Station will host an event April 4 from 11:30 to 1 p.m.  Alpine Fire Protection District will talk about its new chipper that will provide services for free chipping to the communities and will discuss the new fuel break funds that were made possible through a Community Protection grant.  The attendees at the event tomorrow will be  able to be part of the overall collaboration between the San Diego River Conservancy and the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation.saying thankyou for the hard work and commitments we all have made to focus on supporting the communities of Alpine and Viejas. 

.The San Diego River Conservancy is pleased to announce that it has awarded a grant to the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation and Fire Safe Councils in San Diego County. These Fire Safe Councils are remarkable organizations that work diligently to make local communities safer by engaging in activities aimed at reducing the risk and intensity of wildfires, said Julia Richards, Executive Officer, San Diego River Conservancy. Their efforts are truly commendable and deserve to be recognized year after year.  We proudly stand behind the Fire Safe Councils and support their vital work.”