September 1, 2022 (Lakeside) – The Willow Fire burned 15 acres under and across the State Route 67 bridge at Lakeside Avenue yesterday. Cause of the fire is under investigation as crews mopped up hot spots today.
September 1, 2022 (San Diego) - A bill by Sen. Brian W. Jones that protects off-highway vehicle competitions on public lands in California passed in the Legislature and heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom for final consideration.
September 1, 2022 (San Diego's East County) -- Firefighters have held the #Border32Fire to 4,438 acres today, only slightly more than last night, thanks to the courageous efforts of crews working in extreme fire conditions overnight. The fire is now 14% contained, thanks to milder fire activity today. Find links below to our coverage of the harrowing conditions faced by firefighters.
Tonight, starting at 6:30 p.m. residents in the following areas are being allowed to return home, the Sheriff has announced:
West of Cochera Via Drive
East of Potrero Valley Road
Residents returning to Potrero must enter from eastbound State Route 94. Those returning to Dulzura must enter from westbound State Route 94.
The following road closures remain in effect until further notice:
September 1, 2022 (Pine Valley) -- Shelter for people affected by the Border 32 fire continues to be provided at Mountain Empire High School, located at 3305 Buckman Springs Road in Pine Valley. The shelter has been opened for people and pets. The San Diego Humane is providing support on site.
Photo: battalion chief in charge of former inmates in training as firefighters
September 1, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- According to CAL FIRE Captain/Public Information officer Thomas Shoots, crews made a lot of progress overnight on the Border32 Fire. While it is still five percent contained, crews have been busy building a containment line. So they expect the containment to be bigger soon. Crews-–including formerly incarcerated firefighters--held the fire to 4,438 acres as of 5:30 p.m., only about 200 acres more than last night.
September 1, 2022 (Barrett Junction, CA) – Connie Kirkpatrick took these photos of the #Border32Fire last night and early this morning from the parking lot of her business in Barrett Junction.
ECM photojournalist Josh Stotler provides eyewitness account of harrowing conditions
August 31, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Covering the Border 32 Fire last night, I observed some of the most extreme fire behavior that I’ve seen in my career as a firefighter and now, photojournalist. Amid the rapidly changing conditions, I wound up assisting a firefighting crew with a ride away from advancing flames and taking dramatic video as walls of flames crossed Highway 94, where fire crews and I narrowly escaped the fast-moving flames.
The fire has charred huge swaths of San Diego’s East County, burning 4,246 acres as of this morning. The blaze is 5% contained and has destroyed at least four homes, as firefighters continue to battle adverse conditions.
Application period begins Sept. 6 for phase 1 of the Ag Pass program
By Miriam Raftery
Photo: Horses at a Clydesdale farm near Boulevard during Shockey Fire in 2012
September 1, 2022 (San Diego) -- Tragic stories have emerged during past local wildfires of livestock that perished not from flames, but from lack of food, water, or medical care. Farmers may lose crops due to lack of irrigation. That’s led some farmers and ranchers to risk their lives and not evacuate, knowing that they would not be allowed back in to care for their animals or crops.
That’s about to change. On Tuesday, County supervisors voted to approve issuing an agricultural pass (Ag Pass) that will allow a farmer or rancher limited access to their land in evacuated areas during emergencies in order to care for livestock or crops during emergencies, once emergency responders deem conditions safe.
The program comes too late for those evacuated from the #Border32Fire currently threatening Potrero, Tecate and Dulzura. Overnight, some residents posted frantic messages on social media seeking help for animals trapped inside the evacuation area, after volunteers with horses trailers were denied access. The new program would not help volunteers, but would allow commercial ranchers and farmers or their managers who undergo safety training to be allowed limited access in future emergencies.
The plan was proposed by East County Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond.
Photo, left: View from one mile west of Barrett Junction, looking east toward Potrero
August 31, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Fueled by extreme heat, dry and windy conditions, the Border32Fire has grown to 4,324 acres tonight and is exhibiting extreme fire behavior. The communities of Potrero, Barrett and Tecate are threatened by the fire, Cal Fire reports tonight.
It began around 2 p.m. near Barrett Road and Highway 94. Cal Fire, the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies responded. The fire was under attack by ground and air assets initially, including a very large air tanker, fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Night operations for aircraft are extremely dangerous and are rarely done, even by San Diego Fire Department helicopters that are equipped for this. So as of now this is under attack only by ground based crews, and multiple engine companies, including brush trucks and fire trucks. The latter are used to defend structures.
There are other agencies involved and when I drove to the scene saw plenty of Border Patrol vehicles escorting people out of the areas where there are mandatory evacuations. They were driving them west towards Jamul. According to San Diego County Emergency as of this writing there are over 400 homes under mandatory evacuation. The fire is also burning mostly east.
Photos: Left, by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson, right via San Diego Fire Dept.
Update 7:30 p.m.: New road closures: Vine St. north of Mapleview St. to cul-de-sac, Mapleview St. east from Channel Rd to SR-67, and Lakeside Ave. closed between SR-67 and Channel Rd.
August 31, 2022 (Lakeside) – The #WillowFire in Lakeside has scorched around 4.5 acres after starting in a riverbed near Mapleview Road and State Route 94. State Route 94 is closed in both directions due to heavy smoke.
Some residents nearby have received evacuation warnings for people to prepare to leave if an evacuation order is lifted. The Sheriff’s department advises vulnerable people such as those with disabilities, access or functional needs, or large animals to leave now.
A temporary evacuation point is at the Lakeside Christian Church, 13739 El Monte Road in Lakeside.
Update 10 p.m. The fire is now 4,234 acres and 5% contained. The fire continues to threaten the communities of Barrett, Potrero, and Tecate. Multiple agencies are on scnee fighting fire and protecting structures through the night.
Update 9 p.m.: An ECM reporter on scene tonight reports "explosive" fire behavior. A second ECM reporter on scene witnessed electrical equipment explode. The fire is burning near State Routes 188 and 94, heading north. Scanner traffic indicates several homes burned and two civilians suffered burn injuries; a firefighter had a minor heat-related injury. If you are in the path of this fire, do not wait -- get out now. The Border Patrol is assisting the Sheriff Dept. with evacuations.
Update 8 p.m. : All schools in the Mountain Empire School District will be closed tomorrow due to the fire.
SDG&E reports fire damaged electrical equipment, causing an outage for 309 homes in Dulzura, Potrero and Campo. Restoration is expected by noon tomorrow.
By Miriam Raftery
Photo, left, by Nadin Abbott, view from Barrett Junction east toward Potrero
August 31, 2022 (San Diego’s East County)—The #BorderFire32 has swelled to 1,600 acres since starting this afternoon near State Route 94 and Barrett Lake Road near Dulzura.
The fire is burning eastward, with zero containment, and has crossed State Route 94 on the eastern portion of the fire. Structures are threatened, at least one has burned, and more than 400 homes have been ordered to evacuate tonight as the fire burns at a critical speed. Mandatory evacuation areas include much of Potrero, Barrett Junction, Dulzura and Tecate.
State Route 94 is closed all the way from Otay Lakes Rd. in Dulzura to Forrest Gate Rd. in Campo. The Tecate border crossing is also shut down.
Evacuation centers have changed from earlier today.
108 Rescued Beagles reach El Cajon animal shelter and prepare for adoption
Story & photos by Josh Stotler
August 31, 2022 (El Cajon) -- As the wheels of the Embraer Brasilia touched down on the runway of Gillespie Field at 1:43 p.m., 108 rescued beagles officially became San Diegans. The dogs, rescued from Envigo, a Virginia-based company that breeds animals for sale to scientific research & testing facilities, arrived on time and in good spirits.
Update 5:07 p.m. -- The fire has swelled to 1,400 acres, per Cal Fire. Camp Lockett in Campo is now accepting large animals from the fire. There are 2 evacuation centers - Jamul Casino and Camp Lockett. Do NOT go to Potrero County Park announced earlier. Coyote Holler is now being evacuated due to shifting winds, a resident has informed ECM.
Update 4:20 p.m. -- A VLAT (very large air tanker) has been ordered. Resources are requested from as far away as Arizona.
Update 3:45 p.m. -- Cal Fire reports the fire has burned 100 to 150 acres and destroyed a structure; it is spreading at a critical rate of speed.
Evacuation centers are being set up at Jamul Casino; if you cannot safely reach there, an alternative evacuation point is at Potrero County Park (24800 Potrero Park Dr.) in Potrero.
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
August 31, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) Cal Fire is at the scene of a vegetation fire near Highway 94 and Barrett Lake Road. The #Border32Fire is 30 acres with immediate structure threat, burning eastward. A type 1 strike team has been requested to be dispatched to Potrero, scanner traffic indicates.
The California Highway Patrol is shutting down State Route 94 between Marron Valley and State Route 188.
Cal Fire urges people to evacuated from the followin areas (map updateed 4:20 p.m.)
Native health expert says stats are likely an undercount due to poor data collection
Source: Urban Indian Health Institute
August 31, 2022 (Seattle) -- The National Center for Health Statistics, a federal agency under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released a report titled Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2021, which found that the American Indian and Alaska Native population had the steepest decline in life expectancy from 2019 to 2020, dropping from 71.8 to 65.2 years of age. American Indians and Alaska Natives also had the steepest decline from 2020 to 2021, dropping from 67.1 to 65.2 years of age.
August 31, 2022 (San Diego) - In response to a voluntary Flex Alertissued this afternoon by the state grid operator due to high temperatures, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is urging customers to visit its website to learn about simple actions they can take to reduce their energy use while still staying cool.
League play begins with a home opener against Air Force on Dec. 28 and runs until the home finale against Wyoming on March 4
Source: goaztecs.com
Photo courtesy goaztecs.com
August 31, 2022 (San Diego) - San Diego State men's basketball released the initial version of its 2022-23 Mountain West Conference schedule on Wednesday: the first phase of a two-part scheduling process. The schedule features 18-games (nine home and nine road games) with each team playing eight opponents twice (home-and-home) and two opponents once. For the Aztecs, league games are scheduled to begin on Dec. 28 and wrap up on March 4.
August 31, 2022 (La Mesa) - One hundred and one years ago on August 26, 1922, women won the right to vote. Fittingly, Aug. 26 was opening night of Lamplighters Theatre’s production of Silent Sky by Lauren Gunderson. Disguised as a drama, the show is a gift of history, romance, family connections, and a touch of humor, without the happily-ever-after, depending on how you look at the story. "Simply Marvelous, well-acted, and well-written."
August 31, 2022 (Borrego Springs) -- On Friday, Aug. 19, Borrego Health’s administrative offices, individual clinics, and others outside of the organization were notified by the State of California Health and Human Services Agency – Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) that the state intends to reimpose its 100% payment suspension on all Borrego Health Medi-Cal services beginning Sept. 29. 2022
August 31, 2022 (Julian) -- Joel Anderson, County Supervisor for District 2, held a Community Coffee Town Hall meeting in Julian on August 11. Approximately 100 residents filled Julian’s historic town hall to discuss issues of concern, ranging from fire safety and road improvements to animal control and the exceptionally high cost of fire insurance, and many other matters of concern to residents.
East County News Service; San Diego County Communications Office contributed to this report
August 30, 2022 (San Diego) -- A new County department reported Tuesday that in its first year, it secured $30 million to address homelessness, provided housing options for over 4,400 people, held or participated in hundreds of community events to create equitable communities and worked to support immigrants and refugees.
August 30, 2022 (San Diego) – San Diego County Supervisors voted 4-1 earlier this month for a resolution to support the “My Body, My Data Act” introduced by Congresswoman Sara Jacobs, a Democrat whose 53rd district includes portions of San Diego and East County. The bill, if enacted, would protect the privacy of reproductive health data nationwide.
August 30, 2022 (San Diego) -- The National Weather Service in San Diego has issued an excessive heat warning due to triple digit temperatures forecast in much of East County and local deserts through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5.
August 31, 2022 (Lakeside) – A suspected gang-related shooting in Spring Valley on August 18 led SWAT teams to search homes in Lakeside and Santee today. The search found a stash of weapons and resulted in arrests of four individuals.
Aug. 17, 2022 (Julian) – The Julian Grape Stomp Festa celebrates its 25th anniversary on September 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., when guests can continue an Old World tradition of kicking off your shoes, rolling up your pant legs and letting grapes squish beneath your feet. Visitors can also sip samples from local wineries, enjoy food, shopping, live music and even kick up your heels with some extemporaneous dancing.
December 17th is National Wreaths Across America Day and one local program is working hard to honor veterans
East County News Service
August 30, 2022 (San Diego) -- Freedom is often defined as “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” However, a special few Americans will forgo some of their personal freedoms by choosing to serve their country and its citizens. This selfless sacrifice is what makes every veteran a hero. In addition, when asked why they did it, many will answer simply by saying, “Because it was the right thing to do!”
August 29, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- A long duration and high impact heat wave with triple-digit temperatures is expected to begin Tuesday and last through at least Labor Day weekend, the National Weather Service predicts.
August 29, 2022 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego is holding two Mpox (Jynneos) vaccination events this week in the South County in addition to providing 250 vaccinations throughout the week at County clinics.
Event includes expanded entertainment, but no parade this year
East County News Service
August 29, 2022 (Borrego Springs) – The 56th annual Borrego Days Desert Festival offers a weekend filled with activities October 22-23. The festival takes place at Christmas Circle Community Park and Palm Canyon Drive in Borrego Springs.
By Shiloh Ireland
By Chris Jennewein, 
By Miriam Raftery
Source: County News Service
Story and photos by Nadin Abbott
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
By Miriam Raftery
108 Rescued Beagles reach El Cajon animal shelter and prepare for adoption
Native health expert says stats are likely an undercount due to poor data collection
Source: SDG&E
League play begins with a home opener against Air Force on Dec. 28 and runs until the home finale against Wyoming on March 4
By Kathy Carpenter
Action follows fraud investigation, impacts Borrego Health clinics across East County
By Henri Migala
East County News Service; San Diego County Communications Office contributed to this report
By Miriam Raftery
Source: San Diego County News Service
By 
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
December 17th is National Wreaths Across America Day and one local program is working hard to honor veterans
East County News Service
By 
Source: San Diego County Humane Society
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