"Since the inception of the San Diego County Fire Department in 2008, this county has lost over 400 volunteer firefighters, boots on the ground that were guarding their homefront...That's sad." -- JCFPD Battalion Chief Mike Van Bibber

“Ranchita in the month of June this year was covered six days. That’s all.” – Karen Kiefer, JCFPD firefighter-paramedic, on services after the County Fire Authority began its takeover of the volunteer department  June 1^st.

"They came and found us...it was dark, the embers were everywhere...the roof was on fire," Lori Foss says of JCFPD volunteer firefighters who saved her life and her home during the 2007 Witch Fire

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District firefighter-paramedic Karen Kiefer and Chief Mike Van Bibber

October 11, 2018 (Julian) – The battle to save the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District, the last volunteer fire district in San Diego County, has reached a heated pitch. Residents are gathering signatures seeking to block the takeover by the County Fire Authority approved by the Local Agency Formation Commission in September, before an October 16^th public protest meeting with LAFCO.

On our radio show on KNSJ, East County Magazine interviewed the JCFPD battalion Chief Mike Van Bibber, along with firefighter-paramedic and former emergency medical services director Karen Kiefer, a well as Lori Foss, who lost her home in the 2003 Cedar Fire and had her home and family saved in the 2007 Witch Creek Fire by Julian’s volunteer firefighters. They believe that the takeover will leave Julian and surrounding areas less safe due to longer response times by engines coming from farther away, with no “home team” to respond quickly to medical emergencies, car accidents or structure fires.  Click the audio link to hear the full interview, or scroll down to read highlights.

East County News Service

October 3, 2018 (Ramona) – A free Ramona fire prevention and preparedness workshop will be held on Thursday, October 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Ramona Library, 1275 Main Street in Ramona.

Participants include representatives from Cal Fire, County Fire Authority, California Highway Patrol, Sheriff’s department, County Animal Services, and more.  View flyer for full details.

The forum is cosponsored by Hatfield Creek and Ramona Ranch Wineries.

By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  the alert will look like a text.  Image via FEMA

October 2, 2018 (San Diego) - No reason to become alarmed. Your mobile phone will emit a special tone and vibrate as it receives an emergency test message on Oct. 3.  It is part of a nationwide test by the Federal Emergency Management Agency of Wireless Emergency Alerts systems to assess its effectiveness.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

September 24, 2018 (San Diego) -- This is the first week of fall, and with it comes Santa Ana wind season. Though fire season is year round, fall typically brings triple-digit temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds bringing high fire danger and red flag warnings. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Ek, McKenna and Vacio billboard; Kiel image via Facebook

September 23, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The November election could have high stakes in the San Miguel Fire Protection District.  A slate of three incumbents who voted to return the district to local control and axe a contract with Cal-Fire are running for reelection: Theresa McKenna, Jim Ek and Mike Vacio. All are backed by the district’s firefighters. Also in the race is William A. Kiel, son of board member William Kiel, who voted against ending the contract with Cal Fire.

Source: U.S. Fire Administration 

September 20, 2018 (San Diego) - Fire departments and communities around the U.S. are starting to recognize and address the unique fire safety concerns that peer-to-peer (P2P) lodgings, like Airbnb, present.

Utility also announces it has begun installing portable generators to minimize planned power outages in critical wildfire areas and will open Community Resource Centers during fire events.

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

September 14, 2018 (El Cajon) - With the threat of wildfires now constant rather than a fall season rite of passage, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) held a press conference last week to showcase its innovative firefighting “Air-Crane” at a Gillespie Field hangar.

By Ken Stone

Reprinted by Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Devi Ketelsen, 7, reads statement to LAFCO board while being held by mother Jamie. Photo by Ken Stone

September 11, 2018 (Julian) - The only way to save Julian’s last-in-the-county volunteer fire department is to order it destroyed, LAFCO board members declared Monday.

By a 7-0 vote, the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission accepted staff advice to dissolve the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District.

By Jan Hedlun

Photo by Miriam Raftery: 2007 Harris Fire

September 11, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - Living in a rural backcountry is a blessing and a curse. The blessing is seeing an abundance of stars at night, wildlife, and the relative peace and quiet the city can't offer. The curse: some of that wildlife bites, and wildfires are a constant threat for most of the year.

By Miriam Raftery

September 2, 2018 (Sacramento)—California ratepayers could be forced to pay for costs of the 2017 wildfires and some future firestorms caused by utilities’ equipment, if Senate Bill 901 currently on the Governor’s desk is signed into law. Consumers who wish to weigh in can call Governor Jerry Brown’s office at (916) 558-2840 or fax (916) 558-3160.

The language is in an omnibus bill that addresses many wildfire-related issues including wildfire prevention, response and recovery as well as funding for mutual aid, fuel reduction and forestry policies, wildfire mitigation plans by utilities and cost recovery by electricity utility corporations for wildfire-related damages.

All of East County’s legislators voted for the bill including Republicans Randy Voepel and Joel Anderson as well as Democrats Ben Hueso and Shirley Weber.

By County News Center, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  Sign up to receive free emergency information from AlertSanDiego as part of a preparedness promotion with Lyft and you may get a $10 discount on a ride.  Image via Pixabay

August 31, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego County is vulnerable to many types of emergencies: fires, floods, and earthquakes just to name a few. These disasters can strike at any time, and we should all be prepared to keep ourselves, and our loved ones, safe. But a 2017 survey conducted by the County found only half of San Diego County residents are prepared to evacuate their homes within 15 minutes. Only 38 percent have an emergency plan.

East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts

August 29, 2018 (El Cajon) -- A fire caused by ignition of hydrogen at a filling station where a hydrogen truck was refueling has prompted evacuation of schools and delays in trolley service in El Cajon.

Heartland Fire advises the public to avoid the 1100 block of W. Bradley (near Cuyamaca) until around 1 p.m. Cuyamaca is closed from Friendship Dr to Vernon Wy & W. Bradley is closed from Cuyamaca to Johnson Ave

Metropolitan Transit Services advises, "Sycuan Green Line trains are turning at Arnele Station & Orange Line trains are turning at El Cajon Transit Center. Expect delays."

Fundraiser tonight

By Jo Moreland

August 18, 2018 (Alpine) -- Alpine has moved from emergency relief to recovery since the July 6 West Fire destroyed and damaged dozens of homes and other buildings.

That’s the assessment of authorities still working to help about 55 families displaced after flames blazed through the eastern edges of the foothills community of about 16,000 people.

By Miriam Raftery

August 13, 2018 (Ramona) – A Sheriff’s Deputy in Ramona spotted a home in flames at 205 Sixth Street in Ramona before dawn on Friday and called for help. While firefighters were on the way, more deputies from the Ramona substation arrived and entered the residence. They found an elderly couple and other family members sleeping, then safely evacuated them all.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

August 9, 2018 (Dulzura) -- A brush fire has been broken out at Highway 94 and Freezer Road in Dulzura this evening. Firefighting aircraft have been dispatched to the scene. 

Crews are staging at Lucky Six Truck Trail and Highway 94, the Deerhorn Antler reports.