Update 7:50 p.m. - A resident at the scene reports the fire is now under control and nearly extinguished.

Update 5:39 p.m. - Incident Page Network reports the fire is now 15 acres, spreading fast and moving toward structures.

July 9, 2012 (Lake Morena) – A three acre fire is burning off Bass Road in Lake Morena, Cal Fire Captain Mike Mohler has informed ECM.   “It sounds like crews can hold it,” said Mohler, who called while on the road.

Two additional air tankers and one additional helicopter have been ordered to assist in dousing the blaze, he said.  “There are structures in the area but as of now, they are not threatened.”

July 9, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Effective immediately, Cal Fire has issued a no-burn proclamation for all state responsibility lands in San Diego and Imperial Counties.  All open burning is banned and campfires are restricted to designated campfire facilities in established public campgrounds.

Update 10:30 p.m.  The fire is now 20 acres and additional resources have been ordered to the scene.

July 7, 2012 (Otay) – Cal Fire is at the scene of a vegetation fire reported at 8:20 p.m. just east of Otay Mesa in Tin Can Canyon, a remote area. The fire is currently 3-5 acres; no structures are in the vicinity. 

Cause is under investigation, said Battalion Chief Nick Schuler.

By Nadin Abbott and Miriam Raftery

June 27, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Multiple fires in Mexico are threatening homes and a penitentiary tonight, ECM has learned.  Late this afternoon, Cal Fire informed ECM that the agency is monitoring the fire in Mexico, which at that time was eight miles from the border.

Alfredo Escobedo, state director of Civil Defense, told ECM that the fires are burning on three fronts. The first is in Loma Toba, near the state jail, about 20 km (12 miles) east of Tecate, a border town. The blaze, which has consumed 100 hectares, has burned to within 10 yards of the jail wall.

June 27, 2012 (Rancho San Diego)  – Two teenagers have been arrested for suspicion of iintentionally setting a vegetation fire yesterday.  The blaze briefly threatened  several units at the Woodbridge Apartments, as well as six vehicles parked along the canyon rim. The wildland fire was reported at 5:30 p.m. yesterday  in the 10800 block of Calle Verde.

Update 11 a.m. -- The fire is now 80% contained. Base officials say live fire operations started the blaze, which has charred 250 acres.

June 27, 2012 (Oceanside) – A brush fire that started yesterday has scorched over 200 acres.  According to the North County Times, the blaze started north of the base and was 15% contained late yesterday. No structures were threatened.

“The fire is still active. As of 5:30 a.m. the Camp Pendleton Fire Dept. did not have a percentage of containment," ECM’s in-house Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna , author of the From the Chief’s Corner  column, advised.  "Today will be warm and the possibility of “flare-ups” may occur and/or intentional “burning out” targeted areas which ‘may’ or may not cause smoke drift."

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

East County Magazine “In - House Fire Chief”

June 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--Don't assume that someone else has already called. Describe the location of the fire, speak slowly and clearly, and answer any questions asked by the dispatcher.

Here are additional tips to take to protect your home and your family: 

By Miriam Raftery

June 17, 2012 (Lemon Grove)—It was a sweet victory for Lemon Grove Firefighters Saturday night, when driver Joe Lavigne climbed out of his smashed-up vehicle to claim his department’s trophy.  Lemon Grove entered two cars in the Firefighters’ Demolition Derby at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar—and both made it into the final round.

 View our video of the final round by clicking above. 

By Miriam Raftery

Updated June 21, 2012: The Old Fire is now 100% contained at a cost of approximately $2.3 million

June 20, 2012 (Campo) – The Old Fire has charred 995 acres and is now 90% contained.  One residence burned, as well as a recreational vehicle (RV).  Cause remains under investigation, however electrical and lighting have been ruled out. There are no electrical lines near the origin of the blaze on the Campo Indian Reservation, nor were there any reports of lightning, Cal Fire reports.

June 19, 2012 (Campo) – Residents are being allowed back into the area along Old Highway 80 that was evacuated late Sunday afternoon due to the 900 acre “Old Fire” on the Campo Indian Reservation. Church Road at Old Highway 80 and by the 94 is still closed, and residents cannot come back into the location until it is safe to do so.