Update 12:36 p.m.:  Spread of the Bullpen Fire has been stopped at four acres.  The Incident Commander has released the airtankers, 1 helicopter, and the bulldozer.  Firefighters will remain on scene mopping up hot spots.  One minor injury to a firefighter, a bee sting, was reported.

August 20, 2011 (Lakeside)CAL FIRE is on scene of a two-acre brush fire near 1154 Bullpen Street, near the community of Barona (TB Map 1193 A4). Currently there are 5 engines, 2 fire crews, 2 helicopters, 2 airtankers, 1 bulldozer, 1 chief officer (75 firefighters).

The fire was reported at 11:49 and the cause is under investigation.

August 9, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--To ensure that your telephone call gets through to family, friends and loved-ones during an emergency or disaster, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) offers these helpful tips. 

Heartland Fire & Rescue, serving the cities of El Cajon, La Mesa, and Lemon Grove Fire Departments, now has a new website: www.heartlandfire.org. The website incorporates information on emergency preparedness, fire prevention, photos, and current fire department news.

August 4, 2011 (San Diego's East County) ---Two fires are burning in Mexico, with smoke visible across portions of East County.  According to Cal-Fire Captain Mike Mohler, the blaze is approximately seven miles south of the border but poses no threat to the U.S. at this time.  One is south of Potrero/Tecate, the other south of the Otay area.

Update: View a video of the goat-run.

July 29, 2011 (Lemon Grove) -- The City of Lemon Grove, along with its fire department, Heartland Fire & Rescue, will be taking steps to clear brush from eight and one-half acres of land near Lawton Drive and Camino De Las Palmas. Goats will be used as part of the process in clearing heavy brush and creating defensible space for homes in this area.

ELM will begin work Saturday morning, creating a staging area and paddock at the end of Lawton Drive. The public is welcome to come by between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. There will be a small nursery of baby goats for children to see, and ELM Operations Manager Johnny Gonzales will prepare his goats for the traditional “running of the goats” starting at 9:00 a.m.

Supervisors to vote on legal challenge of $150 assessment on rural properties

By Billie Jo Jannen
For East County Magazine

July 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--As County supervisors mull a possible lawsuit over a state plan to bill rural property owners $150 per dwelling, CalFire officials say the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection will take public input through Aug. 22 on how and which rural residents will be charged the new fee.

July 25, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Cal Fire is asking for your help in identifying suspected arsonists.

If you see a fire start, report it and remember everything you saw, Cal Fire advises. Make note of any suspicious vehicles or persons. The information you have, no matter how minor, could be the key to stopping the arsonist.

July 24, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)—Cal-Fire is now battling the 11,000 acre Eagle Fire in a unified command with the Bureau of Indian affairs and the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

July 23, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--Wildfires are on the increase. Yet most wildfires can be prevented.

If you go camping, Cal-Fire asks that you follow these safety steps:

 Update 4:50 p.m. - The Eagle Fire is now 2,500 acres and 5% contained. The fire is expected to continue in a easterly direction away from populated areas. The current temperature is 83 degrees, with 27% humidity;  winds are 13 mph from the west. The fire is burning on Bureau of Indian Affairs and State Park lands.

Estimated cost to suppress the fire is $250,000 to date.

Currently the are 15 Engines, 25 Fire Crews, 9 Water Tenders, 7 Airtankers, 9 Helicopters, 26 Overhead (567 Firefighters).

Update 2:30 p.m. - The Dog Fire is now 70% contained and full containment is expected within the hour.

July 22, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Three small brush fires have burned into one at Doghouse Junction and Otay Truck Trail (Thomas Brothers Map 1353 H11) along the U.S./Mexico border. The fire was reported at 5:40 a.m. and cause is under investigation.

Two air tankers have been added to the incident and fire crews are beginning to be flown to the fire scene, Roxanne Provaznik has informed East County Magazine.

July 19, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- San Miguel Fire District invites you to join the San Miguel Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).  

July 18, 2011 (Jacumba) – The Buffalo Fire, which charred over 25 acres near Jacumba earlier this week, was caused by illegal burning.

“A resident who is Native American had a sweat lodge or ceremonial area,” Cal-Fire Captain Mike Mohler said. “They were burning some leaves or other material in preparation and that spread to a chicken coup, then to an outbuilding.”

July 16, 2011 (Jacumba) -- Wayne Brammer captured these two images of a Cal-Fire crew and a San Diego Sheriff's helicopter in action battling a brush fire near Jacumba this week.

"With all  the power lines running all over this area, my hat goes off to all of these guys. The smoke and power lines made it tough," he wrote, adding that he was amazed to see a house still standing after this blaze near Old Highway 80.

July 14, 2011 (Otay) -- San Diego County Crime Stoppers and Chula Vista Police Department investigators seek help  to identify suspects in arson fires which recently occurred at an elementary school and nearby canyons in the Otay and Chula Vista areas.