By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Lakeside Fire Department, which has sent firefighters to battle the Palisades wildfire

January 11, 2025 (Los Angeles) – After days of massive destruction and widespread evacuations, firefighters are finally making progress on four remaining wildfires in the Los Angeles area.  At least 13 people have died in the fires, which have destroyed an estimated12,000 structures, the Los Angeles Times reports.

At least 90 firefighters from San Diego County have been dispatched to help fight the L.A. fires, including Lakeside Fire Department, which posted photos on social media of the Palisades Fire that their firefighters have been battling since Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands remain evacuated, as firefighters slowly make progress toward controlling fires fueled initially by hurricane-force winds.

Here are the latest updates from Cal Fire and L.A.-based news outlets:

Resources available for impacted customers at community resource centers

January 8, 2025 (San Diego) – This week marks the driest start to the rainy season in San Diego County in 174 years. As a result of these dry conditions and Santa Ana winds, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) continues to implement Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in an effort to reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety.

As of tonight, 8,946 customers have power shut off.  Another 69,155 are at risk of power shutoffs.The effort aims to prevent hellacious firestorms such as those currently ravaging L.A., as wind gusts up to 85 miles per hour are forecast to reach San Diego County soon.

Because of the extended wind forecast, customers may experience prolonged or more than one PSPS. An up-to-date list of impacted communities can be found at sdge.com/ready.

Available Resources for Impacted Customers

SDG&E is opening of Community Resource Centers in affected communities. These Centers are equipped with resources such as Wi-Fi and phone and medical device charging, and they will remain open for customers in need until conditions improve. A list of active Community Resource Center locations and their hours of operation can be found at sdge.com/ready.

January 8, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for San Diego County mountains and valleys today and tomorrow due to high winds and extreme fire danger. The strong winds that have fueled two large wildfires decimating Los Angeles County are forecast to move into San Diego County next.

This is the driest winter period measured from October 1 through January 8 since 1850, according to the National Weather Service, increasing fire danger.

Due to high winds and potential power outages, schools in six local districts will be closed today. The San Diego County Office of Education announced the closures for:

• Julian Union Elementary School District
• Julian Union High School District
• Mountain Empire Unified School District
• Ramona Unified School District
• Spencer Valley School District
• Warner Unified School District

“The safety of students and school staff is of the utmost importance to San Diego County school districts,” officials said in a news release.

In Los Angeles County, devastating fires have collectively destroyed over 1,000 homes and two people have died, the Los Angeles Times reports.

As CAL FIRE positions resources and staff, residents are urged to prepare too

Source:  CAL FIRE

January 7, 2025 (Sacramento) - In response to a forecast of critical fire weather conditions, CAL FIRE has increased firefighter staffing and pre-positioned resources throughout Southern California. The National Weather Service predicts strong offshore winds, low humidity, and high fire risk from Tuesday through Thursday. 

By Miriam Raftery

December 17, 2024 (San Diego) – Joan Jones, Vice Chair and Executive Director of the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation, has been named Mid-Size Nonprofit Executive of the Year by the San Diego Business Journal.

According to the Journal, Jones has raised $10 million for the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation, with a grant success rate of nearly 100%, helping to reach the Foundation’s goal to make San Diego the safest county in the nation.

Through new partnerships, the Foundation has significantly expanded support of regional fire departments and fire safe councils, providing valuable protection to residents across our region.In addition, the Foundation provided a grant to support East County Magazine's Wildfire and Emergency Alerts, helping to keep people safe and informed during emergencies across our region.  In 2024, the Foundation's grant funds also provided:

December 10, 2024 (Alpine) --  California Highway Patrol has closed Interstate 8 eastbound, east of East Willows Road in Alpine is currently closed due to multiple overturned big rigs caused by high winds. There is no estimated time for re-opening. Expect significant delays and avoid the area if possible.

View video: https://x.com/i/status/1866556789279559868 

By Miriam Raftery, East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

December 9, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – With a red flag warning in effect from the National Weather Service due to high fire danger today through Friday, SDG&E has begun public safety power shutoffs affecting 8,949 customers in Alpine, Boulevard, Campo, Descanso, Jacumba and Jamul. There are also unplanned outages in Julian and Borrego Springs. However, up to 108,619 more customers may face planned power outages between now and December 13 at noon, according to SDG&E, including most East County communities.

Communities at risk of outages in San Diego County include the Barona reservation, Borrego Springs, the Campo reservation, Capitan Grande reservation, Cardiff, Chula Vista, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Granite Hills, Jamul Indian Village, Julian, La Jolla Reservation, Lakeside, La Mesa, La Posta reservation, Lakeside, Los Coyotes Reservation, Manzanita reservation, Mesa Grande reservation, Pala,

Pala reservation, Pauma Valley, Pauma reservation, Poway, Ramona, Ranchita, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Rincon reservation, San Diego, San Marcos, San Pasqual Reservation, Santa Ysabel, Santa Ysabel reservation, Santee, Solana Beach, Sycuan  reservation, Valley Center, Viejas Reservation, and Warner Springs.

Community Resource Centers are open in many communities.  For a list of community resource centers, see https://www.sdge.com/psps-dashboard.

By Miriam Raftery

December 2, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Cal Fire investigators have arrested a serial arsonist accused of setting nine fires across East County between Nov. 10 and Nov. 30.

Allen Dinoyo, a transient resident of San Diego, will be charged with multiple felonies. He is accused of starting vegetation fires on Nov.10 in Jamul, followed by six fires on Nov. 20 in Rancho San Diego, Jamul, and Dehesa, as well as two more fires on Nov.30 in San Diego and La Mesa.

Source: CalFire

November 21, 2024 (San Diego's East County) - - The CAL FIRE San Diego Unit is preparing to conduct prescribed burns across San Diego and Imperial Counties as part of an ongoing effort to reduce wildfire risk, enhance ecosystem health, and protect community safety. These projects are planned during carefully selected weather conditions that meet specific safety and ecological parameters.  A controlled burn is being conducted today in the Campo area.

Each prescribed burn project undergoes a comprehensive review to ensure it meets the criteria for environmental benefit, appropriate weather, smoke management, and fire safety. Once a project is approved, trained CAL FIRE personnel will conduct the burns under strict guidelines.

By Miriam Raftery

November 16, 2024 (San Diego) – By a unanimous vote, San Diego County Supervisors on Oct. 22 authorized the San Diego County Fire Authority to provide a dedicated staffer to assist homeowners with applications to the  Wildfire Prepared Home program.

The program, provided through the Insurance Institute for Business & Home and Safety (IBHS), offers a discount on insurance premiums to homeowners who apply and meet fire safety requirements. To apply, homeowners must pay an application fee of $125 and pass an inspection. Now, County Fire officials can also visit homes to help homeowners assure that they have met the wildfire mitigation requirements.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alert Service

November 5, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – SDG&E warns that high fire risk weather conditions amid a red flag warning may result in public safety power shutoffs to prevent fires starting Wed. Nov. 6 at 4 a.m. through Friday, Nov. 8 at 5 p.m.  Communities at risk of power shutoffs are listed below and include 24, 740 customers, or input your address here: https://www.sdge.com/psps-dashboard

Photo:  view from City Heights.  Photo credit:  Martin Eder

Update 6:45 p.m.-- The #Fairmountfire is 25% contained. Six homes have been damaged. Montezuma Rd will remain closed all night for apparatus access. There are no injuries from the brush fire; a shooting near the SDSU trolley is unrelated to the fire.

Update 4:30 p.m.-- The fire is now called #Fairmount Fire and is 37 acres.  Temporary evacuation point is at Allied Gardens Recreation Center.

Update 2:39 p.m.- Hardy Elementary School is being evacuated; students are being taken to Viejas Arena at SDSU, per SDFD. Parents can use Canyon Crest to access the arena; avoid CollegeAve.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo via UCSD HP web cam, view from Mt. Miguel of #MontezumaFire.

October 31, 2024 (San Diego) -- Evacuations are underway in the SDSU college area due to the #MontezumaFire, which has burned 10-15 acres n both sides of Montezuma east of Fairmont.

Evacuations are in progress along Lila Drive, Collwood Way, Lucille Drive, 49th St. and neighborhoods along Yerba Santa Dr., per Watch Duty. Deputies are going door to door. Structures are threatened; fire is burning at a critical rate of spread, per the Watch Duty App.

Cal Fire reports Montezuma Road is closed in both directions and Aldine is also shut down.

Photo, right, by Carey Thoza.

Don't get burned! Safety tips to prepare for wildfires

By Miriam Raftery

Hear full interview

September 30, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Cal Fire Captain and Public Information Officer Mike Cornette, in an interview aired on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ, offered an outlook on peak wildfire season, information on new Zone Zero defensible space requirements around homes, as well as tips to prepare for wildfires and keep your household safe.

On the fall outlook for wildfires,  he notes that fire season is now year-round. “We’ve seen large fires anywhere from January to December in every different part of the state, every different part of the county.” Now that peak fire season approaches, there is heavy grass from last winter’s heavy rains, “so we’re still expecting potential for large wildland fires through December.”

Recent major fires in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange and San Bernadino Counties should be a "wakeup call" for residents across California to be prepared for wildfires by creating defensible space around homes and being ready to evacuated if needed.

Captain Cornette urges people to maintain defensible space from 0 to 100 feet around your home—thinning fuels in the morning, with high humidity and lower temperatures,  “to make it more survivable.”

By Miriam Raftery

View dramatic rescue by a Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire battalion chief of a woman walking through flames in Airport Fire

September 13, 2024 (San Diego) –Firefighters have reached significant containment levels on two of the three major wildfires still burning across four Southern California counties. In addition, an arsonist has been arrested in connection with the devastating Line Fire in San Bernadino County. The federal government has approved resources to help fight all three large Southern California fires.

Click the links below for Cal Fire’s full updates, maps and current evacuation details.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update 5:15 p.m.-- Forward spread has been halted at 65 acres and evacuation orders have been lifted. 

September 7, 2024 (Campo) -- Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for a brush fire burning at Church Road south of the Golden Acorn Casino near Old Hwy 80. The #ChurchFire has potential for 1,000 acres; it has burned 65 acres so far, per Cal Fire.

View an updated evacuation map here:  Genasys Protect  A temporary evacuation center is at the Golden Acorn Casino,1800 Golden Acorn Way in Campo.