By Miriam Raftery

Harris Fire survivors among thousands nationwide ordered to return money to FEMA

By Miriam Raftery

May 12, 2011 (Potrero) – Donald and Veronica Lytle are stunned after receiving a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) demanding that they return all of the $1,647.43 that FEMA paid them in 2007 for cleanup and temporary lodging after their home on Potrero Valley Road was damaged in the Harris wildfire. FEMA has offered no explanation for the demand, other than stating that the entire amount was an “overpayment.”

The Lytles say FEMA insists their home did not suffer fire damage--despite mounds of ashes blown inside and a hole knocked in the roof by a tree felled during a firestorm so extreme that it fueled its own weather system.

ECM editor Miriam Raftery visited Potrero during that firestorm and concidentally, interviewed the Lytles’ next-door neighbor—witnessing firsthand the devastation clearly caused by the horrific wildfire.

May 2, 2011 (East County) -- A multi-company/ multi-agency drill hosted by the San Miguel  Fire District was held yesterday, givingEast County fire agencies an opportunity to work together to improve mutual-aid responses. The event included agencies such as CALFIRE, Sycuan, and San Diego Rural  Fire, giving them a rare opportunity to participate in a commercial structure drill.

May 2, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A small brush fire scorched less than quarter of an acre this afternoon near Bell Junior High School on Briarwood Road in the Paradise Hills area.  According to Maurice Luque, spokesman for San Diego Fire Department, the blaze was swiftly doused. 

Proceeds from April 6 event benefit the Burn Institute

April 6, 2011 (San Diego) -- Local firefighters take to the streets today for the 12th Annual Firefighter Boot Drive -- a countywide effort to support the Burn Institute.

The Boot Drive began as a grassroots effort backed by the fire service and has been going strong for more than a decade.  It is now a hallmark fundraiser for the Burn Institute. In 2010, more than $210,000 was raised for the organization.  Scroll down for a list of locations where firefighters will be asking the public to "fil the boot." 

March 24, 2011 (Borrego) – 9:37 p.m. – A residential fire at 5965 Split Mountain Road in Borrego Springs is causing a heavy glow from a distance, Incident Page reports. Currently a one alarm fire, the blaze is a long drive time away from emergency responders, according to IPN.

March 2, 2011 (Santee) – After an extensive nationwide search, Santee City Manager Keith Till has named Robert E. Leigh as the city’s new fire chief. Leigh is currently a deputy fire chief for the city of Aurora, Colorado, the state’s third largest city and a community of 314,000 east of Denver.
 

February 20, 2011 (San Diegio) – Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) announced this week that the State Auditor will conduct an investigation of California’s mutual aid response system to learn if budget cuts are undermining the program. Kehoe requested the audit at a Feb. 16 meeting of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.

“Our mutual aid system, which was created in 1950 and has been a model for the country, is facing challenges as state and local governments slash their budgets,” Kehoe said. “If this system is further strained, it could jeopardize public safety during wildfires, earthquakes, floods, or mudslides. We can’t afford to let that happen.”

February 14, 2011 (Pine Valley) – Cal-Fire is conducted a controlled burn today and tomorrow in Corte Madera Ranch near Pine Valley.

Smoke may be highly visible throughout much of East County.

The Alpine Community Network reports a controlled burn is also underway today in the Japatul Valley area.

Mayor mum on whether he will take action

By: Jeremy Los

February 3, 2011 – Councilmember Marti Emerald has made an official plea to Mayor Jerry Sanders to reinvest reserve funds in restoring fire engines and lifeguard services.

“The primary function of government is keeping its citizens safe,” said Councilmember Emerald. “I will not stand down until adequate public safety resources are restored to our neighborhoods.”

Volunteers to remain unpaid; reactions mixed among area residents

January 28, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – On Tuesday, San Diego’s Board of Sueprvisors voted unanimously to consolidate five additional volunteer fire departments in unincorporated backcountry areas (Boulevard, Campo, Mount Laguna, Palomar Mountain, and San Pasqual) into the County’s newly created Regional Fire Authority.

January 18, 2011 (Palomar) --If you see smoke, don't panic.  The United States Forest service will be conducting a controlled burn today and tomorrow near the intersections of Palomar Divide Truck Trail and Halfway Road placing it on a North East / East aspect of Palomar Mountain.

December 17, 2010 (Jamul) 11:14 p.m. – A vehicle fire has spread into brush, sparking evacuation of a trailer park at 13800 Lyons Valley Road in Spring Valley, Incident Page Network reports.  A rollover accident with a vehicle ending up in a ditch triggered the blaze, which was reported at 10:22 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

November 24, 2010 (Descanso) -- The Descanso Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest is conducting 300-500 acres of prescribed burning in the south eastern part of San Diego County. The projects are located near the communities of Alpine, Pine Valley, and Mt Laguna. Prescribed burning will be conducted from November of this year, through June of 2011 as weather and fuel conditions permit.