By Miriam Raftery

November 7, 2018 (Spring Valley) --- A trio of incumbents backed by the firefighters' union won reelection easily in the San Miguel Fire Protection District.

With 39% of districts counted, Theresa McKenna has 33.2%, Jim Ek 27.4%, and Michael Vaio 26.6%, defeating William A. Kiel II, son of board member William Kiel. The younger Kiel, a  trading card company owner with no fire experience, drew just 12.8% of the vote.

The stakes were high in the race, since the three incumbents who won reelection voted to return the district to independent operation, cancelling a contract with Cal Fire. The action passed by a slim one-vote margin, with Kiel, senior, voting against separating from Cal Fire.

East County News Service

November 3, 2018 (San Francisco) – “We want to hear from you about wildfires!” states a message from Agatha Wein at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).  “The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is examining how well California's electric utilities are prepared for wildfires and we want input from community leaders.”

SDG&E, PG&E, Southern California Edison, and several other utilities are required to develop wildfire mitigation plans that will include details on:

• wildfire prevention strategies for electric utilities,
• maintenance and inspection of lines,
• outreach to first responders and customers, including low-income, elderly, disabled, and those with limited English,
• restoration of service after a wildfire

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update November 1, 2018, 8 a.m. -- Cal Fire reports that there were six spot fires and forward spread is stopped on all of them.

Update 9:55 p.m.:  Two fires near El Capitan reservoir are burning; one south of the boat dock is "problematic" and incident commander has requested additional resources, per scanner traffic.

October 31, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Cal Fire is at the scene of the #PeutzFire that started near Peutz Valley Road in the Alpine area shortly before 9 p.m. reportedly about half an acre. 

Scanner traffic indicates crews have been battling multilpe small spot fires.

Crews had difficulty reaching flames near El Capitan reservoir due to a locked gate, Fox 5 reports.  Scanner traffic indicates the fire may be two acres.

Be vigilant and please report any suspicious activity to authorities.

Source: Heartland Fire & Rescue

Photo:  Steve Swaney, new Heartland Fire Chief

October 17, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) --The Cities of El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove, which jointly manage Heartland Fire & Rescue, have selected Steve Swaney as the next Fire Chief.  The City Managers for the three cities (Graham Mitchell of El Cajon, Yvonne Garrett of La Mesa, and Lydia Romero of Lemon Grove) made the announcement that Swaney will begin serving in this capacity on October 20, 2018.  Chief Swaney replaces Colin Stowell, who recently was appointed Fire Chief for the City of San Diego.

Source: Santee Fire Department

October 16, 2018 (Santee) -- An original art work honoring the sacrifice of first responders on September 11,2001 will make Santee its home for the next three months.

The 3-by-4-foot oil painting portrays a New York firefighter with is head in his hands standing below a tattered American flag with the iconic wreckage of the Twin Towers in the background.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alert Service

October 13, 2018 (San Diego) – Santa Ana winds gusting into our region, along with falling humidty, have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for high fire danger from 3 a.m. Monday to 8 p.m. Tuesday.   

East County News Service 

Photo: Gate Fire started by target shooters in 2017 near Dulzura

October 11, 2018 (Dulzura) — By a 3-2 vote, San Diego County Supervisors approved an ordinance introduced by Dianne Jacob to ban recreational target shooting year-round on two portions of Bureau of Land Management property near Dulzura. The action aims to reduce wildfire risk following multiple blazes sparked by target shooting.  The ban does not apply to hunting of legal game.

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The Cinnamon Fire, which burned 13 acres in Ramona on July 20th  and destroyed a home that was a former stage coach stop dating back to 1870, was caused by use of equipment, says Cal Fire public information officer Isaac Sanchez.

SIG Alert issued; Wildcat Canyon Rd. closed at Willows Rd.

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2018 (Lakeside) – A collision on Wildcat Canyon Road this morning has resulted in two fatalities. A 21-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man, both from El Cajon, died after they were ejected from a 1992 Honda Accord that struck a 2013 Porsche Cayenne.

According to the CHP, the Honda was traveling south on Wildcat Canyon north of Willow Road at a high speed when the Honda struck a concrete curb. The driver veered left, directly into the path of the Porsche, which was driven by a Santee woman, 43.

“The two vehicles collided broadside,” said Officer Travis Garrow. “The force of the impact split the Honda in half.”

By Miriam Raftery

View video:  https://www.facebook.com/SanMiguelFireRescue/videos/666970520352994/

September 23, 2018 (San Diego) – Firefighters from the San Miguel Fire District joined with other first responders locally in the 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb in San Diego. They ascended 110 stories – the height of the fallen World Trade Center’s twin towers in New York--at the Hilton San Diego Bay Front Hotel on September 8th.

Source:  CPUC

September 21, 2018 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold a public workshop in San Diego to examine existing emergency coordination and communication efforts by electric and water utilities with local and state government agencies and other stakeholders, and consider the need for new rules and regulations.

By Miriam Raftery

September 18, 2018 (Lakeside) – Five candidates are running for the Lakeside Fire Protection District Board.  Three are incumbents:   Robert Robeson, a retired Cal Fire assistant chief, Mike Haworth, a retired fire division chief, Peter Liebig, a retired firefighter/paramedic. Two are challengers:  fire captain Tim Robles and volunteer emergency responder Ron Kasper.

East County Magazine sent questionnaires to all five, and three responded (Robeson, Haworth and Kasper).   Below are their responses (published in the order received), plus links to their ballot statements.

By Jo Moreland, Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce

September 13, 2018 (Alpine) - As a result of Alpine’s West Fire, a local organization to help provide tax-deductible donations for local causes is now a significant one for fire survivors. Thanks to generous people, businesses and organizations, donations for West Fire survivors are being made available for distribution through the Alpine Community Foundation.

Battle to save the county's last volunteer fire district now hinges on a protest process that could give voters the final say

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Miriam Raftery, Editor, also contributed to this report.

 

Photo:  Battalion Chief Mike Van Bibber, Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District

September 11, 2018 (Julian) -- A group of Julian area residents fighting fire axes-and-hoses against a county takeover of fire and medical first responder services won a firm victory last Thursday in Superior Court. Judge Timothy Taylor ruled to allow a ballot measure to fund future operations for the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD).

Backers of the initiative hoped the ruling would curtail the County of San Diego’s efforts to terminate the JCFPD, the region’s last all-volunteer fire department, and shift fire and ambulance services to the County Fire Authority (CFA) in conjunction with Cal Fire.

But despite Judge Taylor’s ruling, yesterday the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) voted 7-0 to dissolve the district. Residents could still block the takeover through a protest process that’s now been triggered.  Determined opponents of the takeover are gearing up for the fight, arguing that eliminating volunteer firefighters who live in the community will make the area less safe, not safer has had been promised by the CFA.

Source: Lakeside Fire

September 7, 2018 (Lakeside) -- The Lakeside Fire District is hiring for both entry-level Firefighter-Paramedic and Reserve Firefighter. Check out this dramatic video (https://twitter.com/i/status/1038201517344468992) and visit http://lakesidefire.net  for more information.

Applications close on November 1, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.