October 28, 2019  (San Diego) --- The National Weather Service has issued a red flag alert, warning of extremely critical fire weather conditions arriving Tuesday night and continuing through Thursday afernoon.  This has potential to be the strongest Santa Ana wind event so far this season, the NWS predicts.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

October 28, 2019 (Ramona) – The Sawday Fire which began Friday morning and scorched 97 acres was caused by a parked trailer that caught fire, Cal Fire reports. It is not yet known what caused the trailer to ignite along Sawday Truck Trail near Littlepage Road.

By Miriam Raftery

October 28, 2019 (Los Angeles) – The fast-moving #GettyFire that erupted overnight near the famous Getty art museum has shut down the 405 freeway in Los Angeles.  Several homes have burned and thousands are threatened. Mandatory evacuations have been issued as far south as Pacific Palisades, affecting 10,000 commercial and residential structures as well as the University of California, Davis campus, CBS 8 reports.

Fire officials described the evacuation zone s a box bounded by Mulholland Drive on the north side, the 405 on the east, Sunset Boulevard on the south and Temescal Canyon Road on the west. A broader evacuation warning area extends north to Topanga and west to Malibu.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

Photo, left, via CalTrans:  Glencove Fire in Vallejo shut down the Carquinez bridge for several hours

October 27, 2019 (San Diego) – Governor Gavin Newsom today declared a statewide emergency as wildfires whipped by hurricane-force gusts forced hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate. As apocalyptic images emerged, the danger for those caught in the paths of the infernos deepened due to intentional power shut-offs by PG&E that left over 2 million Californians in the dark.

“We area deploying every resource available,” Governor Newsom announced at a press conference, also urging everyone in evacuation zones to heed warnings from offficials and first responders.

By Miriam Raftery

October 27, 2019 (Alpine) – The holidays are coming. What to serve?  It’s easy as pie! Alpine Ranch is offering a homemade pie-making class on Saturday, November 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

From pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving to mince pie at Christmastime, home-made pies are a holiday tradition that’s as American as apple pie.

Cost is $40. To register and get directions, contact Nancy Teas-Crain at ntcrain@me.com or call/text 619-733-5016.

By Miriam Raftery

October 27, 2019 (Santee) – The Fredricks family of Santee has grown a whopper of a pumpkin, tipping the scales at 1,531 pounds.  The giant gourd is the largest ever grown in San Diego County, according to Sarah Fredricks. 

It took second place at the Pumpkin Competition weigh-off at the Irvine Railroad Park on September 21, however, missing the all-time Southern California record by just two pounds. (The largest in Southern California was grown by Chris Dunn and weighed in at 1,533 pounds. The biggest statewide was entered by Ruben Frias of Napa, who won with a 1,758 pound pumpkin.)

“I have grown giant pumpkins on and off since 2001,” says Jim Fredricks, who grew the giant gourd along with his wife, Sarah, and their boys, Andrew, 5, and Joshua, 8.

By Kim Simas 

October 27, 2019 (Julian) - On Saturday, November 9, 2019, the Julian Community Heritage Foundation (JCHF) will host their second fundraiser benefitting the Julian Town Square Project. The group is spearheading the much-anticipated project to breathe life into the empty corner lot in the center of town. After three decades, the time is right to turn the space into something beautiful for Julian. Contaminated materials have been cleared from the vacant lot formerly owned by Chevron and county officials have given the green light to develop this property.

Update October 26:  30 homes have burned in Rosarito, where a man and his dog were found dead after their home burned, Mexico News Daily reports. Over 70 homes have now burned in Tecate. The National Forestry Commission (Conafor) had contained only 35% of the estimated 50 fires raging in Mexico.

By Miriam Raftery

“People had to hike out through the mountains to save their lives,” – Tecate resident Veronica Lavarello

October 25, 2019 (Tecate, Mexico) – Fires burning in Mexico have displaced at least 1,645 people forced to evacuate their homes. The blazes have killed three people, Associated Press Reports. Deaths include a 12-year-old girl and a 19-year-old woman, the Mexican new site Radar Tecate reports.  Antonio Rosquillas, director of Baja California Civil Protection, indicates two others are injured. In Rosarito, where 30 homes have burned, a man died in a structure fire along with his dog, Mexico News Daily reports.

Tecate Mayor Zulema Adams announced that at least 54 homes  have been destroyed and 100 have been damaged.

One of the fires shut down the coastal highway north of Ensenada for several hours today. A fire in the Tecate region burned over 35,000 acres. Schools in Tijuana, Tecata and Rosarito were all ordered closed today due to heavy smoke.

Smoke has been visible on the northern side of the international border but thus far the blazes are confined to Mexico.

Mexico’s president has declared a state of emergency, as dozens of families remain in shelters.  Tonight, the intensity of Santa Ana winds has diminished, aiding firefighters battling the blazes.

Update 11 a.m.  SDG&E has shut off power to around 16,000 customers due to very high winds howling through some mountain and rural areas of East County.  Winds approaching 100 mph have been clocked today atop at least one local mountain peak.

East County News Service

October 24, 2019 (San DIego's East County) -- San Diego Gas & Electric will open seven Community Resource Centers tomorrow, Friday, October 25th starting at 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. due to power outages the company initiated during the Santa Ana wind event.  Water and snacks will be available, and residents can charge devices and get up-to-date information about power outages at these Centers:

- Descanso Branch Library: 9545 River Dr. Descanso, CA, 91916

- Whispering Winds Catholic Camp: 17606 Harrison Park Road, Julian, CA, 92036

- Pine Valley Improvement Club: 28890 Old Highway 80, Pine Valley, CA, 91962

- Lake Morena Community Church: 29765 Oak Drive, Campo, CA, 91906

- Portrero Community Center: 24550 Hwy 94, Portrero, CA, 91963

- Dulzura Community Center: 1136 Community Building Road, Dulzura, CA, 91917

- Warner Springs Resource Center: 30950 CA-79, Warner Springs, CA, 92086

Join East County Magazine at our Haunted Mt. Helix Manor for our annual Halloween party!

Open to all subscribers (subscribe free at the top right side of our homepage):

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26  

4 p.m.- 8 p.m.

4438 Hideaway Place, La Mesa, CA 91941

--Bring a devilishly delicious dish to share

--Costume contest and parade

--Prizes and surprises! (Prize donations welcome)

Thanks to our prize donors! City Tacos, La Loteria del Jamul, La Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Scare Trail at Marshal Scotty's, SoCal Axe Throwing, Pearson Brothers Winery, Reanimated Records, and more. Prizes include gift certificates to local restaurants and shops, wine lovers gifts, coffee lovers' basket, chocolate truffles, Spring Fling and Summer Bash Business Expo tickets, accessories, holiday party passes and more.

Cost $16 in advance, $20 at the door.  GET TICKETS: 

East County News Service

Photo: Congresswoman Davis at U.S. Institute for Peace forum on democracy and women's rights in Afghanistan

October 23, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan and Jordan with a high-level bipartisan Congressional delegation led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The delegation met with top diplomats, military leaders and troops, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, and King Abdullah II of Jordan.

“I was pleased to be a part of this delegation trip designed to strengthen relationships with our allies and discuss national security issues, especially in light of the deepening crisis in Syria after Turkey’s military incursion and increased violence by the Taliban,” said Rep. Davis, a  San Diego Democrat whose district includes portions of East County. “This delegation trip provided members with the latest information on the ground and will inform us as we continue to create U.S. policy toward the region.”

By Claire Trageser, KPBS | CALmatters

CALmatters is an independent public interest journalism venture covering California state politics and government.

Photo:  Flames from the Witch Fire light up the early Friday morning sky in northern San Diego County, Oct. 26, 2007. Photo by Jon Vidar/Associated Press

October 23, 2019 (San Diego) - As Pacific Gas & Electric Co. plans power shutdowns beginning Wednesday in parts of 17 Northern California counties due to high winds and fire danger, its management of the crisis has been widely criticized.

October 23, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

Impeachment inquiry

• Bombshell testimony rocks Trump impeachment defense (CNN)
• Bill Barr is ‘obligated to recuse’ himself from Ukraine investigation — or resign: NYC Bar Association (Raw Story)
• Republicans storm closed-door hearing to protect impeachment inquiry (The Hill)
• Trump urges GOP to fight for him (The Hill)
• In admitting then denying quid pro quo, Mulvaney turns harsh spotlight on himself (Washington Post)
• Former  Ohio Governor Republican John Kasich says he’s now for impeaching Trump (CNN)
• Federal investigation of Rudy Giuliani includes counterintelligence probe (CNN)

Other national news

• Flint schools receive water stations, filtration systems from billionaire Elon Musk (ABC 12)
• State Dept. finds no intentional mishandling of classified info under Clinton (10 News)
• Safety Experts Slam Boeing And FAA For Design And Approval Of 737 Max Jets (NPR)
• Dick's Sporting Goods destroyed $5 million worth of assault rifles, CEO Ed Stack says (Yahoo)
• Tulsi Gabbard’s Clinton clash sparks speculation about her political future (CNN)

WORLD

• Trump suffers rare international rebuke in a withering statement from multiple European countries (Raw Story)
• Parliament votes to withhold full approval of Brexit deal, postponing Boris Johnson’s moment of reckoning (Washington Post)
• Trump says his Doral golf resort will no longer host next year’s G-7 summit, bowing to criticism (Washington Post) 
• Canadian election: Trudeau’s liberals ‘retain power’ (BBC)
• Israel's Netanyahu gives up effort to form new government (Reuters)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

October 23, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Settlement reached in lawsuit challenging how police cite homeless under San Diego’s encroachment law (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Syrian refugee, 17, attacked on San Diego trolley by man shouting slurs, police say (Guardian)
• Coastal Commission unanimously OKs plan to remove San Onofre nuclear plant domes (10 News)
• Sacramento Report:  the Big, Gnarly Issue Shirley Weber Plans to Tackle Next (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

• California’s high gas prices will be investigated for possible price fixing (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Firefighting foam leaves toxic legacy in Californians’ drinking water   (Los Angeles Times)
•   PG&E warns of 10 years of power shut-offs. California officials don’t like it   (Los Angeles Times)
• Unprecedented movement detected on California earthquake fault capable of 8.0 temblor (Los Angeles Times)
• California’s canine blood banks harvest from caged dogs and operate in secrecy (Los Angeles Times) 

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.