June 17,2011 (San Diego) -- County Supervisors and public safety officials kicked off Defensible Space Days last week by urging residents to give their homes a fighting chance against wildfires by creating a 100-foot buffer zone.  The map below shows areas most likely to have a major wildfire—including a significant section of East County. 

“We lost thousands of homes in the 2003 and 2007 firestorms and learned that homes with defensible space are far more likely to survive than homes without it.  As we head into the hot, dry conditions of summer and fall, it’s imperative that residents get rid of fire hazards on their properties,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

June 15, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A suspect shot by a U.S. Marshal at the Albertson’s at 790 Broadway in Lemon Grove has led deputies on a high-speed chase. Incident Page Network reports multiple shots were fired and the suspect has been shot in the arm. The Highway 94 on-ramp westbound ramp westbound from College Grove was shut down temporarily, however the suspect has now been taken into custody.

By Miriam Raftery

 Miriam Raftery

June 12, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Last week, as ECM reported, FEMA retracted its demand for Harris Fire survivor Veronica Lytle of Potrero to pay back disaster funds that FEMA had claimed were paid in error. Now FEMA informs ECM that 40 survivors of the 2007 California firestorms have been sent recoupment letters.

“FEMA received four appeals from applicants who were affected by disasters which occurred in San Diego County,” said a FEMA spokesperson who asked not to be named. “FEMA either rescinded or adjusted the amount identified for recoupment on three of the four appeals.”

June 9, 2011 (San Diego's East County) – One of the nation’s only DC-10 very large Airtankers has been deployed from California to assist in fighting the raging wildland fire in Arizona. The request was made yesterday by the U.S. Forest Service. The aircraft, Tanker 911, took off this morning from its base in Victorville.

Update June 6, 2011 6 a.m. -- The Bee Fire is now 90% contained at 100 acres, Cal-Fire says. 
June 5, 2011 (Dulzura)—The Bee Fire, which started at Marron Valley Road and Bee Canyon south of Dulzura at 3:45 p.m. this afternoon, is now 100 to 130 acres. The wildfire is now 5% contained and forward spread has been stopped, according to the Cal-Fire incident page: http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current

Full containment is projected for midnight tonight.

Following cuts in Cal-Fire staffing, fire agencies will be out in force next weekend to inspect properties and educate public

June 5, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- State budget cuts have slashed staffing on Cal-Fire engines from four men to three.  The manpower cuts as fire season approaches come at a time when heavy winter rains mean more growth of brush, providing increased fuel for fires.  The County asks residents to join in Defensible Space Days and remove fire hazards within 100 feet of your home before peak fire season. Fire agencies and safety groups will be out in the community June 10-12 to provide information about defensible space, including what is required by law and local code.  

Click here for information on protecting your home with defensible space. 

May 26, 2011 (Lakeside) – Cal-Fire, working in unified command with Lakeside Fire Protection District, has halted the spread of a 5-acre fire burning south of the San Vicente Reservoir near the Morena gate in Lakeside.

Ten engines, two fire crews, a helicopter, an air tanker, bulldozer and water tender have helped battle the blaze. Access was limited due to construction in the area, however the situation is under control and a request for a second air tanker has been cancelled.

May 21, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – If you see smoke, don't panic!  Heartland Fire is conducting controlled burns today in East County.

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."