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.

November 8, 2010 (Pine Valley) – Cal-Fire will be burning brush piles on the Corte Madera Ranch south of Pine Valley during the next two days. Smoke will be visible from through the eastern portions of San Diego County. Weather permitting, the burns will begin around 10 a.m. and should be completed by 2 p.m. both days as part of an ongoing vegetation management plan, said Nick Schuler, Cal-Fire battalion chief.

October 30, 2010 (La Mesa) -- The East San Diego County League of Women Voters and the American Association of University Women are co-sponsoring a meeting with Augie Ghio, Fire Chief of San Miguel Fire Protection District.

The meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 13, 2010, at the Helix Water District Boardroom, 7811 University Avenue, La Mesa.

October 22, 2010 (Ramona)--The Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest is conducting prescribed burning from October 19th 2010 to May, 2011 if weather and fuel moisture conditions permit. This vegetation treatment is for community defense, fuel break maintenance and forest health, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The prescribed burning will take place on Forest Service Land that adjoins the San Diego Country Estates.

October 11, 2010 (San Diego) -- If you see smoke over the central area of the County today, the source is likely to be training fires planned at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station.  Training fires will be set off between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. today.

East County News Service

Update 9 p.m. Cal-Fire is sending five engines into Mexico.

September 26, 2010 (Tecate) 6:20 p.m. – Incident Page Network reports that a firetruck was overtaken by the fire at the U.S.- Mexico border fire shortly after 4 p.m. today. Cal-Fire spokesman Mike Mohler said he also received word that a fire truck may have burned but was unable to confirm.

However he assured, “All the firefighters are fine; a couple of civilians in Mexico were burned or injured and were transported to a medical facility in Mexico.”