August 14, 2012 (Escondido) – The fire season has started and it’s important to be prepared.  Waterwise Botanicals, 32183 Old Highway 395, Escondido is offering a free seminar on August 25 on “Fire Safe Landscaping with Succulents”.  The seminar will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and will be held outdoors.

August 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter rescued a woman, 28, suffering from heat exhaustion near Three Sisters Falls at 4 p.m. today.  

Sgt. Mark Johnson and Deputy Warren Voth found the distressed hiker about halfway down the trail from the trailhead parking area. The helicopter landed and Deputy Voth hiked down the trail to the victim.

Pattern has created an “imminent harm to public safety”, suit alleges

By Miriam Raftery

August 14, 2012 (Ocotillo) – The U.S. District Court in San Diego will hear a case filed by a group of Ocotillo residents, Community Advocates for Renewable Energy Stewardship [CARES] requesting a temporary restraining order to shut down construction on Pattern Energy’s Ocotillo Express wind project.

According to the suit, a Pattern Energy employee filed a declaration revealing that Pattern never engineered or submitted final grading plans. The wind developer claimed “very little actual grading” while in fact grading 149 acres of underground trenches, 286 acrsd of turbine pads and 42 miles of roads, some three times as wide as the project approvals allowed. 

Plaintiffs allege that Pattern and the Bureau of Land Management “have created an imminent harm to public safety by approving the installation of the cheapest and weakest type of wind turbine foundation…without geotechnical or structural engineering to ensure compliance with State and Federal standards.”

August 13, 2012 (San Diego) -- Veteran and associate members of the San Diego Veterans For Peace will be launching a protest on Thursday, August 16 from 4-6  p.m.

Update 5:30 p.m. - Evacuations are now mandatory due to spread of the Wilson Fire toward Ranchita. Reverse 911 calls have been made to 228 homes.  An evacuation center has been set up by the Red Cross at Warner Springs High School, 30951 Highway 79.  A large animal evacuation station has been established at Love Acre Ranch, 35490 Highway 79, Warner springs. 

August 13, 2012 (San Diego's East County) - The National Weather Service has isseud a flash flood warning for southeast San Diego County. Radar indicates flash flooding is occurring near the Live Oak Springs and Boulevard areas and other rural areas along the southern mountains.  A lesser flash flood watch is in effect for a broader area that includes San Diego County deserts and mountain.

By Miriam Raftery

August 12, 2012 (Lemon Grove) –The driver of a BMW who struck a bicycle last night at 9:48 p.m. lost control of his car and rolled over several times near Central Avenue and Federal Boulevard in Lemon Grove.  He was partially ejected from his vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, according to Sergeant Herbert Taft with the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s substation.

August 11, 2012 (San Diego) -- The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for County Line BBQ and Cafe located at 23446 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086 effective immediately.

As a result of the boil water order, the restaurant has voluntary closed. The restaurant is situated close to the Chihuahua Fire currently burning in the area.