June 19, 2012 (Santee) – The city of Santee’s Summer Concert Series kicked off its 29th year on June 14 with The Destroyers, Navy Band Southwest.  The concert was accompanied by a food truck rally. 

The nine-concert series features the return of three musical acts that attracted sizeable crowds last year, as well as an eclectic lineup of 7 other bands that range from country to classic rock. Performances are every Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. through August 16, except July 5. 

June 19, 2012 (La Mesa)—On June 15 at 9 a.m., a resident in the 7400 block of Sturgess Avenue in La Mesa, observed a man burglarizing his vehicle. The victim realized his vehicle window had been broken and observed the suspect holding a screwdriver and stealing property from the vehicle. The victim called La Mesa Police as the suspect fled the scene on foot, jumping over fences and cutting through the back yards of residences. 

June 19, 2012 (Campo) – Residents are being allowed back into the area along Old Highway 80 that was evacuated late Sunday afternoon due to the 900 acre “Old Fire” on the Campo Indian Reservation. Church Road at Old Highway 80 and by the 94 is still closed, and residents cannot come back into the location until it is safe to do so.

June 18, 2012 (El Cajon)--Today, several construction workers arrived at a work site in the

300 block of Linda Way, near Chambers Street in El Cajon, to a suspicious sight. Workers reported what appeared to be a homemade explosive device, according to El Cajon Police.

“It was a [road] flare with some wires and a container with fluid attached,” Battalion Chief Ted Kakuris with Heartland Fire told East County Magazine.

San Diego Sheriff’s Bomb and Arson Squad was called to the scene and used a water cannon to blow apart the device. 

Chief Kakuris said the device did not detonate. However, he concluded, “It was simply an attempt to make an explosive device and it was flawed.”

By Miriam Raftery

Sierra Robinson also contributed to this report

June 18, 2012 (Washington D.C.)— "It makes no sense to expel talented young people who are, for all intents and purposes, Americans," said President Obama Friday, speaking at the White House. View a video.

The President noted that many children of undocumented immigrants have grown up in America, only learning of their own undocumented status when they apply for a driver’s license or a job.

Under a new policy announced by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, young immigrants who meet certain criteria will no longer be deported. Instead, those who qualify will be eligible for deferred action for two years, subject to renewal.

UPDATE July 18, 2012:  SDG&E has informed ECM that the Old Fire was not started by Sunrise Powerlink.  “The fire started on June 17 near Miller Valley,” Hanan Eisenman, communications manager, stated in an e-mail received June 18.  “At the closest point, Sunrise is two miles away. Therefore, this has nothing to do with the Sunrise Powerlink.” 

 Cause of the fire, which is now over 820 acres, remains under investigation, per Cal Fire.

Update 10:05 p.m.: This fire is now 450 acres, spreading rapidly. an estimated 150 homes are threatened and the blaze is zero percent contained.  A travel trailer has been destroyed. 

Road closures: Old 80 x La Posta rd, Old 80 x Crestwood, Hwy 94 x Church Rd, and Crestwood  2 miles east of Golden Acorn Casino.  There are 15 engine, 2 handcrews, 1 dozer, 4 airplanes, and 3 helicopters assigned. A shelter has been set up at Golden Acorn Casino.  A Cal-Fire spokesman told ECM there is room in the parking lot for trailered livestock as well. An earlier report that Golden Acorn had evacuated proved incorrect.

 June 11, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Approximately 443 households are without power as a 450-acre wildfire rages in or near their communities, ECM has learned. 

Is it just coincidence that earlier today, electricity was switched on to the 500 kilovolt (kv) Sunrise Powerlink for the first time, as UT San Diego reported today? 

At 2:53 p.m., SDG&E’s website states that “a combination of factors has caused a problem with a substation.” 

According to Cal-Fire, the wildfire, called the Old Fire, began around 3 p.m. 

June 17, 2012 (Campo)—The Golden Acorn Casino in Campo has been evacuated as a precaution, Cal-Fire spokesperson Roxanne Provaznik advises.  The Old Fire is now 300 acres at 7:40 p.m. Winds have shifted, pushing the fire east toward Boulevard. 

“High temperatures and erratic winds are hampering firefighting efforts,” Provaznik advised.