ECM Special Report reveals  rural fire stations shut down for weeks, seriously under-staffed in peak fire season

By Miriam Raftery

October 10, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – An East County Magazine special investigation raises some burning issues and reveals that lives are at risk in rural East County areas.

Since the Cedar Fire a decade ago, our County has promised to improve fire protection by consolidating rural fire agencies into a County Fire Authority. But our report exposes glaring deficiencies--and asks some critical questions:

• Could a man who died at De Anza Resort in Jacumba Hot Springs have been saved if the two closest fire stations had not been closed, dramatically delaying emergency response time?
• Why was Boulevard’s fire station shut down for 28 days in August, 30 days in September, and at least the first seven days in October – during peak fire season? 
• Why were both Boulevard and Jacumba Hot Springs fire stations unmanned on September 30, when a man found unconscious died after medical help took an hour or more to arrive, according to eyewitness accounts?
• Why haven’t funds promised by SDG&E  to mitigate dangers from new energy projects been spent in the communities most  at risk?
• Why, even when stations were open, were  there only two-man crews which firefighting professionals say is inadequate for structure protection or rescues from a burning building?
• How many other stations across East County may be similarly short-staffed or closed?

Our investigation raises grave concerns about public safety, but so far, officials have not provided any satisfactory answers.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos  by Deborah Horger, , Jeff Holz. Rebecca Jefferis Williamson and Imed Fehri and Alexis Parmnnoff

Update October 7, 2013 --SDG&E advises that the suspected cause of the outage is a faulted capacitor station.  All power was restored by 1:30 p.m.; the outage began at 10 a.m. affecting 4,501 customers.

October 6, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- An SDG&E sky crane loaded with 2,500 gallons of water helped firefighters halt a brush fire in Lakeside at 28 acres. No structures were lost; mop-up activiites will continue through the night.  The blaze began shortly after power went out to more than 4,500 customers for reasons that SDG&E's website indicated were unkown at the time of the outage; power has been fully restored. 

Below are our earlier updates on this fire, which began at Aquilla Drive in Lakeside and sent smoke billowing forth that was visible across much of East County as well as Poway and San Diego.

Update 4:20 p.m. - Winds have subsided and SDG&E has restored power to all but two customers in the Descanso/Green Valley area.

By Miriam Raftery

October 5, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) has shut down power to 87 customers.  The company’s website states, “An outage has been initiated to protect public safety.”  A red flag alert and high wind warning are in effect.

"I remain extremely concerned that shutting off power jeopardizes the safety of communities and the availability of water for residents and firefighters. SDG&E has the statutory authority to cut off power only if there is an imminent threat to public safety," Supervisor Dianne Jacob posted on her Facebook page.

October 4, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – SDG&E has notified East County Magazine’s Viejas Alerts that proactive power outages are possible due to high fire danger conditions.  A Red Flag Alert is in effect today through Sunday and a high wind watch has also been issued. 

Make sure you have flashlights and portable radio with batteries to stay informed during a power outage.  This is also a good time to sign up to follow ViejasAlerts at www.twitter.com so you can get text message alerts on your mobile phone.  If you have internet access you can also check our website for reports on fires at www.eastcountymagazine.org .

“We expect the highest winds between 4 a.m. and noon Saturday,” Stephanie Donovan, spokesperson for SDG&E, informed ECM.   Gusts of 50 to 70 miles an hour are expected in some places.

The utility has made outbound calls to 5600 customers warning of possible power shut-offs in the following areas:  Descanso, Mt Laguna, Viejas, Barrett Lake, East Jamul, Potrero, East Ramona, San Diego Country Estates, some portions of Santa Ysabel and North Wynola and Wynola, Japatul, Boulevard, Valley Center and Lake Wohlford. Click "read more" and scroll down for details.

By Nadin Abbott

October 3, 2013 (San Diego) As we noted in an earlier article, we approached the County about a disturbing trend we found of shelters not being open after they were announced as shelters during emergencies:

http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/13952

After presenting our concerns to the Supervisors, we followed through with the County and did a public records request for correspondence or other records regarding the shelters found closed.

By Janis Mork

October 3, 2013 (San Diego)- At its September 11 meeting, the Board of Supervisors received an update from the Office of Emergency Services (OES) on how the department is better preparing San Diego for the 2013 fire season. The board also learned steps to keep those with special needs safe and what caregivers can do.

Supervisor Dave Roberts, a former firefighter, spoke first. “ I have tremendous respect for fire fighters…[to] take care of the vulnerable population.”  He  thanked the OES for its efforts and said he is pleased to be moving the item forward. “This will help get caregivers more assistance.. It’s my hope that today everyone will leave with a better understanding of being prepared.”

September 27, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--The National Weather Service today issued a Red Flag Warning due to high winds, dry brush and increased fire danger in San Diego County. The Red Flag Warning will be in effect from 12 p.m. Friday, September 27 through 6 p.m. Saturday, September 28 for the following communities: Ramona, Valley Center, Fallbrook, Escondido, El Cajon, Alpine, Potrero, Campo, Santa Ysabel, Descanso, Julian, Ranchita, and Warner Springs.

“Firefighting agencies throughout the state will be on high alert this weekend,” said Cal Fire Captain Mike Mohler.  “This is the first Red Flag Warning of what is shaping up to be one of the most challenging fire seasons in many years.  High winds can turn a spark into a devastating wildfire in just minutes, so we’re calling on San Diegans to be extremely vigilant in the high fire-risk areas of the county.”

During the Red Flag Warning, Cal Fire urges all Californians to exercise extreme caution outdoors in order to prevent wildfires. A few helpful reminders and fire prevention tips include:

September 26, 2013 (San Diego's East County) --Fires are burning off I-8 at Dunbar Lane in Alpine, Greenfield in El Cajon, and Los Coches Road behind Vons in the Lakeside/El Cajon area. The first blaze began about 5:30.  10 News has a live video http://www.10news.com/video/live_video. 

An eyewitness told 10 News that as she passed Greenfield, she saw a string of small flames popping up.  She said she got repeated busy signals trying to call 911.  

"Right now the total acreage is around 30 acres," Mike Mohler of Cal-Fire reported.  "Firefighters are making good progress but we still have a long way to go."  Homes are threatened and residents have been advised to leave some homes on Lotus Lane.  Mohler said authorities are investigating the possibility of arson, or a vehicle malfunction. 

September 22, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The Sierra Club invites the public to a benefit to raise funds for rebuilding a cabin lost in the Chariot Fire on July , and to celebrate the fact that the historic Foster Lodge survived the wildfire on Mount Laguna.  While there was insurance coverage, the Chapter needs to raise funds to offset a $10,000 deductible and other costs not covered to get the lodge reopened for business.

Photos by Billy Ortiz

September 11, 2013 (San Diego) -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has renewed agreements with the County and City of San Diego and firefighting agencies to make a heavy-lift air-crane available to support fire suppression efforts during fire season again this year.

With the Erickson Air-Crane back in San Diego and ready for action, any fire agency with legal responsibility and authority to suppress wildland fires may request support of the helitanker to respond to a fire incident.  The 70-foot-long air-crane can be dispatched by San Diego Fire-Rescue Department to a fire in 20 minutes with as much as 1,000 gallons of water at takeoff and can release up to 2,500 gallons in a single water drop.

Photo, left:  Lyons Valley fire, Jamul, by Leslie Yoder

Photo, lower right: UCSD's HPWren webcam atop Lyon's Peak

Update September 10, 2013, 8 a.m.  – The Lyons Fire has charred 450 acres and is 15 percent contained. No structures have been lost.  Rain overnight brought help to firefighting efforts. 

Lyons Valley Road is closed between Japatul and Honey Springs and will remain closed for most of the day. Skyline Truck Trail is closed between Honey Springs and Skyline Spur; Skyline Spur is the alternate route, the Deerhorn Valley Antler advises.

Update 6:30 p.m. - Residents in Lyons Valley are being escorted back to their homes this evening, the Sheriff's media line has advised ECM.  ECM reporter Nadin Abbott advised the school that was listed by the Sheriff and County Emergency Services as an evacuation site is now closed.  The fire has charred 250 acres and is 10% contained.

Update 4 p.m. The Potrero Fire is 100% contained at 5 acres, Cal Fire reports. No structures were damaged but one burn injury was reported.  Lyons Fire in Jamul is 225 acres, Cal Fire confirms. Deerhorn Valley Antler editor reports all roads in Four Corners area are closed. Firefighters are concerned fire could move into Lawson Valley.  SDG&E is evaluating risk to Sunrise Powerlink.

Update 3:30 p.m.: Power has been fully restored to all residents. 

By Miriam Raftery

September 7, 2013 (Borrego Springs) – Severe weather knocked out power yesterday afternoon ito 2700 SDG&E  customers in Borrego  Springs and nearby communities.  An estimated 760 households remain without power today in Borrego and Shelter Valley as temperatures climb to triple digits. 

SDG&E estimates power will be restored at 7 p.m.   “Currently, we have restored some emergency power to a portion of the community. This has enabled the county to open a cool zone at the library on Palm Canyon Drive,” an SDG&E advisory sent to residents advises.

“There was hardly anyone in town, no gas, can’t pump with no power,” Borrego resident Bob Kutscher informed ECM this morning. 

By Miriam Raftery

September 1, 2013 (Yosemite) --The Rim Fire burning in Yosemite National Park has charred over 225,000 acres. Smoke this weekend drafted into Yosemite Valley as more than 5,000 firefighters continue to battle the blaze. Investigators have not yet determined the cause, but illegal marijuana growing operations are suspected.  The fire is 45 percent contained, but thousands of homes remain threatened and 11 homes have burned, along with the Berkeley Tuolumne Camp.  (For details, see: http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/pub/cdf/images/incidentfile889_1195.pdf

Cal Fire now ranks the Rim Fire as the fourth worst wildfire in California history, based on acreage burned nearly 225,000 acres.  The fire could potentially surpass the 2003 Cedar Fire, which burned over 273,000 acres and remains our state’s worst wildfire ever in sheer size. But The Rim Fire is not likely to surpass the Cedar Fire in two other measurements of its disastrous scale.  The Cedar Fire still holds the record of causing the most deaths—14, and burning the most structures – 2,820.  Moreover, the collective toll of the 2007 wildfires here was even larger.

UPDATE September 3, 2013:  The Medical Examiner has identified the deceased shooter as Lionel Silva II.  At 2:16 a.m. the Sheriff sent an advisory that a robot confirmed the shooter is dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.  Most of Grandview has been reopened to residents only, with the exception of Grandview Peak and Angel's Terrace. Murdock School, which was used as a command post, will be open for classes. Below is our earlier report.

By Miriam Raftery

September 2, 2013 (Mt. Helix) – A SWAT team standoff with a suspect who reportedly fired up to 200 rounds in all directions from inside a home at 9952 Grandview Drive  on Mt. Helix continues tonight. A Sheriff's advisory indicates the suspect, 47, is believed to be armed with a rifle, a shotgun and two handguns.

By Miriam Raftery

Update 7:20 p.m. - Sheriff media rep advises Red Cross will be making arrangements for displaced residents overnight.  Check back for details on where a shelter will be set up.

Update 6 p.m. - The stand-off continues. We heard shots repeatedly at our home. Channel 8 reports more than 200 shots have been fired in all directions. 

September 2, 2013 (Mt. Helix) -- A gunman armed with a high-powere rifle has fired shots inside a home in the 9900 block of Grandview on Mt. Helix.  The Sheriff has made reverse 911 calls advising residents within a one mile radius to shelter in place with windows covered. Some homes have been evacuated but deputies are unable to go door to door for evacuations because they would be exposed to fire, according to a Sheriff's notice to media.

The fiancé of the 47-year-old man holed up inside the house told deputies they had an argument and the man threatened to hurt her and himself. The man had been drinking, authorities report. When deputies arrived on scene and tried to contact the suspect, the man threatened to kill the deputies. A few seconds later, shots were fired inside the house. Deputies immediately backed out of the house. Three other people inside the house got out safely and no one has been harmed as of 2:50 p.m.; deputies did not fire a shot, according to the Sheriff..

A SWAT team has been called in and a stand-off is occurring as negotiators try to get the suspect to surrender.  A Sheriff dispatcher advised ECM editor Miriam Raftery, who lives within the perimeter established, that the gunman has a high powered rifle.  A neighbor told 10 News that at least 10 or 15 shots were heard.