Source:  Cal Fire

August 16, 2021 (Oroville, Calif.) - On Saturday August 7th around 1:00 a.m., one Cal Fire Captain and three Cal Fire firefighters were injured while engaged in fire suppression on the Dixie Fire in Northern California. A fire-weakened tree fell and injured four members of Rainbow Crew 5, a firefighting handcrew from Cal Fire San Diego Unit. All four were transported to the hospital with various injuries.

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Jonathan Goetz also contributed to this report

Photo courtesy of Cal Fire

August 11, 2021 (Lawson Valley-East County) - A fire broke out on Tuesday, August 10, around 6 p.m. that destroyed a home on Lyons Creek Lane just east of Jamul.

According to a tweet sent out by Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire they arrived at the scene of a fully involved structure fire that spread to the surrounding vegetation.  The forward rate of spread of the vegetation fire was stopped at one acre. The fire was off Lyons Creek Lane in the community of Lawson Valley.  It was known as the #LyonsFire.

The firefighters stopped the spread by using water and retardant drops using airplanes and helicopters in approximately 40 minutes.

East County Magazine Wildfire & Emergency Alerts broke the story (Twitter: @eastcountyalert) thanks to Nadin Abbott, who issued live updates to our twitter followers. Prompt coverage on fires in Jamul can save lives as many areas have only one way in/out.

No humans or animals were injured. The cause of the fire was not disclosed at this time. 

If you have photos, details, or an eyewitness account on this or any local emergency please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org

Thanks to the Grossmont Healthcare District and San Diego Regional Fire Foundation for their generous sponsorship of our East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts!

Update: All lanes open reports Caltrans San Diego, and Fire Scanner reports “[r]esources will be on scene mopping up the fire for the next couple of hours.”

By Jonathan Goetz

August 1, 2021 (Santee) – A vegetation fire nick-named the #MissionFire has closed the two westbound State Route 52 lanes at Fanita Drive, reports Caltrans San Diego.

@SDCountyFires broke the story on twitter and reports that crews have upgraded to a “high wildland response,” firefighter lingo for a serious response and a sign that this fire is being taken very seriously and may pose a great danger to the surrounding community.

The fire burned at least one acre and "multiple explosions" were heard in the area, behind Sprouts at 9361 Mission Gorge Road, they report.

This is a breaking story and updates may be posted above or in a new article.

If you have photos, details, or an eyewitness account on this or any local emergency please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org

Thanks to the Grossmont Healthcare District and San Diego Regional Fire Foundation for their generous sponsorship of our East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts!

By Miriam Raftery

Memorial service and fund to help family of Anthony Cano announced

July 29, 2021 (Lakeside) – Anthony Cano, 27, dreamed of being a firefighter from an early age.  For the past five years, he was living his dream as a firefighter and paramedic with the Lakeside Fire Protection District, while enjoying family time with his two children, ages 7 and 2.  But on July 8, he passed away unexpectedly at his home in Temecula of undisclosed causes.

East County News Service

Photo: U.S. Army helicopter training, cc via Bing

July 17, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego County has issued a noise advisory for East County’s Descanso and East Alpine communities due to military set for Wednesday, July 21 and Monday, July 26.

East County News Service

Photo via @CALFIRESANDIEGO on Twitter

July 12, 2021 (Valley Center) - Cal Fire is at scene with cooperating agencies at a vegetation fire near San Gabriel Way east of Couser Canyon Road in Valley Center.

The fire has burned three acres, moving at a slow rate of spread with potential structure threat.

 

Sign up to receive East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts free via e-mail. You can also follow @EastCountyAlert on Twitter for text alerts on your mobile phone. We thank the Grossmont Healthcare District and the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation for their support of our alerts, helping to keep you safe and informed.

 

East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts

Photo by Jonna Waite, viewed from west Pine Hills

Update July 5, 2021: The #YsabelFire is 90% contained; firefighters have held it to 173 acres.

Update 7:05 p.m. Fire remains 173 acres and is now 17% contained. All Evacuation Orders and Warnings have been lifted. Road closures lifted; Highway 79 remains open for one-way traffic.

Update 4:45 p.m. -- The fire is now 173 acres and 0% contained, but the spread has slowed, per Cal Fire.  A temporary evacuation point has been established at Lake Henshaw.

July 3, 2021 (San Diego's East County) – The CHP website reports that a county trash truck rear-ended a motorhome, sparking a fire that ignited vegetation on Highway 79 north of Highway 78 in Santa Ysabel. (screenshot, right).

The brush fire is over 10 acres and is now threatening homes.

Photo, left: Burned RV, via Cal Fire

Source: Pala Casino Spa Resort

June 28, 2021 (Pala) -- Pala Casino Spa Resort commends the local agencies battling the Mesa Fire that broke out along State Route 76 near Pala Casino this week. Pala Casino has worked closely with Riverside County Fire Department Battalion Chief Mark Scoville and CAL FIRE Captain Wes Handy to provide support for the agencies.

Update June 20, 2021 11 a.m. -- The fire is holding at 343 acres and remains 5% contained, Cal Fire reports this morning.

Update 8 p.m.  --  Cal Fire tweet:  #OverlandFire off of Canebrake Canyon Road and Great Southern Overland Stage Route , East of Mount Laguna in San Diego County is 343 acres and 5% contained. Change in acreage due to better mapping. @CALFIRESANDIEGO

By Miriam Raftery

June 19, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – A brush fire burning near Canebrake along the Great Southern Overland trail has scorched 500 acres and is zero percent contained as of early this afternoon, Cal Fire reports. The #OverlandFire is east of Mount Laguna in the Anza-Borrego Desert.

No evacuations have been ordered as of 1:30 p.m. The fire is in a remote location and is not currently threatening any structures. However, a Cal Fire spokesman on Twitter indicated access for ground crews is difficult due to rugged terrain, requiring additional air resources that are now on scene.

Several Canebrake residents contacted ECM to clarify that the fire is not burning within the community of Canebrake, but to the west.

Source: Cal Fire and San Diego Sheriff

June 18, 2021 (San Diego) -- As we enter our summer fire season, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) are reminding the public, it is against the law to fly a drone near or over a wildfire. Firefighting aircraft could be grounded, disrupting critical fire operations. Time is of the essence. 

Click on the video to watch.

UPDATE: @Lambo_Gambo reported the "forward rate of spread has been stopped and fire is contained at 3 acres," around 5:30 p.m. 

By Jonathan Goetz

June 1, 2021 (Ranchita) - Wildfire watch cameras detected a possible wildfire roughly an hour ago, around 4:30 p.m., reported @huntefire and Cal-Fire was immediately dispatched. It turned out to be a small vegetation fire and was named the "Montezuma Fire."

@CALFIRESANDIEGO reported being on the scene at Montezuma Valley Road in Warner Springs, while @SDCountyFires reported it started in the 27900 block of Old Mine Road in Ranchita.

No structures are threatened, reported @SDCountyFires, adding, "SDSO reporting no winds in the area and that the fire is spreading south."

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via The Mountain Community on Facebook, posted by Laura Palmer Vikara

Update May 13, 2021 -- The California Highway Patrol reports that the  driver was trapped in the vehicle and died. The body of a second male victim as found later in the afternoon. Both of their identities are unknown. Around 7:48 p.m. the driver hauling a semi-trailer (big rig) lost control and struck the center divider, hit a bridge rail and rolled down an embankment off I-8 east of Sunrise Highway, where the truck became engulfed in flames. CHP, Border Patrol and Cal Fire arrived shortly after the crash. It is unknown what caused the accident and whether the victims wore seatbelts. CHP asks anyone who witnessed this crash to call the CHP in El Cajon at (619)401-2000.

May 12, 2021 (Pine Valley) – Westbound Interstate 8 is shutdown from Buckman Springs Road to Sunrise Highway due to a big rig truck that caught fire, crashed and damaged a bridge. Traffic is being diverted onto Old Highway 80.

According to the CHP Incidents page, the accident occurred near the Border Patrol Checkpoint, which is three miles east of Pine Valley.  Damage to 30 feet of metal and concrete on the bridge is reported.

UPDATE 5:39 P.M.:  The Evacuation Warning for the Coches Fire has beeen lifted. The Temporary Evacuation Point at W.D. Hall Elementary School is being closed.

UPDATE 4:59 P.M.:  Fire remains at 30 acres, 5% contained.  No structures damaged or destroyed.

4:35 P.M.:  Fire is 30 acres spreading east along I-8 towards Los Coches Road.  Evacuation warnings:  anyone wishing to evacuate can go to WD Hall Elementary.  No evacuation orders at this time.

4:32 P.M.:  Fire is 25 acres spreading east along I-8 towards Los Coches Road.  Evacuation warning for WD Hall Elementary.  No evacuation orders at this time.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

May 12, 2021 (Lakeside) -- Cal Fire is at the scene with cooperators of a vegetation fire along I-8, west of Los Coches Road in the Lakeside area. Four acres, moderate rate of spread. The right lane is closed on eastbound I-8 east of Greenfield.

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