May 15, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S

• NASA spots worrisome Antarctic ice sheet melt that could add 4 to 12 feet to current sea levels (10 News)
• Net neutrality puts FCC at center of storm (Washington Post)
• Dems ready student loan push (The Hill)
• U.S. passenger jet nearly collided with drone in March: FAA  (Reuters)

WORLD

• Sewol ferry captain and 3 crew members face murder charges in South Korea  (CNN)
• EU court says people may remove unflattering links from Google (+video) (CS Monitor)
• France says Syria used chlorine in 14 recent attacks (Reuters)
• Separatists kill seven Ukraine soldiers in heaviest loss for Kiev forces (Reuters)
• Sudanese woman may face death for choosing Christianity over Islam (Reuters)
• Iraq Debates Law That Would Allow Men To Marry 9-Year-Old Girls (NPR)

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

An open letter to Supervisor Dianne Jacob

By Lou Russo

Photo: Alpine fire April 14, photo by Billy Ortiz

April 14, 2014 (Alpine) -- As I watched the news today, and as I watch the City of Carlsbad news conference, a flood of memories return.  In particular, I am reminded of the Cedar fire, but also all the places currently at risk; e.g. Fallbrook, San Marcos, Bonsall, Camp Pendleton.  I spent over 20 years in that area, including years off Hwy 76 in Oceanside, near Bonsall.

Many of those cc'd on this email lived through the Viejas, Cedar, Horse, etc. fires here in Eastern Alpine; many of them lost their homes.

As I write this, Jim Easterling has forwarded to the Alpine Community Planning Gruop (ACPG) members that Alpine currently has one, let me repeat that, one fire truck left in Alpine...the rest have all left to support other agencies.

As I type this, out my back window I can see the wind traveling west, right down the Sweetwater River canyon...which borders Cleveland National Forest and all its fuel. As I write this, there is currently a fire in Lakeside, a few exits down the freeway.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Facebook/Camp Pendleton Scout

May 15, 2014 (San Diego) 1 a.m. – Wildfires have scorched 9,196 acres, the County Emergency Services Department has announced. Alert San Diego has sent 121,878  notices to residents to evacuate or prepare to evacuate.

Several major fires continue to burn in north San Diego County tonight and several structures have been lost.  Below are updates on each of these incidents.

By Nadin Abbott

May 14, 2014 (Lakeside)--A brush fire Lakeside along I-8 business route and Aurora Drive sent up billows of dark smoke visible across much of East County late today.  The blaze, which started atop a small hill, charred 17 acres, according to Chief Andy Parr Of Lakeside Fire. Evacuation notices sent to 1,300 residences have now been lifted.

A road closure on Aurora Drive will remain in effect overnight.

By Miriam Raftery

May 14, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) 8 p.m. --  Southern California Emergency Services has published a map of  9 fires burning across the region, as of 6 p.m. this evening:  https://twitter.com/SoCalEMSFire/status/466748689151954946/photo/1

Firefighters have gained control of the Sterling Fire in Lakeside, where 1,300 households were evacuated and residents are projected to be allowed back home around 9 p.m.  An eyewitness, Elizabeth Galloway, told ECM she saw a transformer explode, which apparently caused the fire.  Galloway sent the photo at the top of this page.

A red flag warning has been extended through tomorrow night due to strong winds forecast and hot, triple-digit weather.

For updates on the following fires, visit these links:

Schools closed, new fire now burning in Lakeside

Photo: Fire off Los Coches Road in Lakeside, photo by Beverly Reyes

By Miriam Raftery

May 14, 2014 (San Diego)—San Diego Board of Supervisors Chair Dianne Jacob today declared a countywide emergency due to at least eight fires now burning.  A Red Flag alert has been extended through tomorrow night.

Fires are currently burning in Lakeside, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Rancho Bernardo, Bonsall, Escondido, Camp Pendleton and Scripps Ranch.

An evacuation center has been set up at El Capitan High School for 1,300 ordered evacuated in the Wintergardens area of Lakeside. Business Highway 8 from Pepper Drive to Los Coches Road is closed.  The fire is now in mop up with no structures lost; evacuations will be lifted at approximately 9 p.m., Chief Andy Parr of Lakeside Fire told ECM.

The County urges people NOT to call the 911 system unless it is a dire emergency. They ask citizens use the 211 system. The 911 system is taxed.  One ECM reader reported getting a busy signal trying to call 911 to report the Lakeside fire this afternoon.

Numerous school districts have ordered schools closed tomorrow, including many in East County. Closures include:

May 13, 2014 (Sacramento) -- The California Department of Insurance announced today that USAA policyholders living in recognized Firewise Communities/USA® sites in California will receive discounts on their homeowners insurance premiums. USAA, which provides a full range of financial products and services to the military community and their families, has been working with the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Wildland Fire Operations Division for several years to investigate the possibility of providing incentives for residents of wildfire-prone areas to take steps to create safer, more fire-adapted communities. NFPA’s Firewise Communities/USA® Recognition Program provided the community action framework and local data that enabled USAA to offer this new discount to policyholders.

Update 10:30 p.m. - All roadsd are now reopened. The fire has burned 850 acres, San Diego Sheriff advises.

Update 8:15 p.m. - Evacuations in this fire have been lifted, the County Emergency website reports.

By Miriam Raftery

May 13, 2014 6:10 p.m.(San Diego)--A fast-burning wildfire has charred an estimated 700 acres and forced evacuation of 20,000 homes in north-central San Diego County,  Ron Lane, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer with the County Fire Authority told advised East County Magazine. 

An evacuation center is open at Rancho Bernardo High School (13010 Paseo Lucido).  An earlier evacuation center at Torrey Pines High School is full.

The blaze, which is 5% contained, is burning west of  I-15. 

Communities that have been evacuated include portions of Torrey Highlands, Rancho Penasqutios, Black Mountain Ranch, Santa Luz Fairbanks Ranch, outer portions of Rancho Santa Fe and Camino Del Sur, according to Cal Fire.

"Currently, the areas of concern include the Communities of Rancho Santa Fe, Fairbanks Ranch, San Diego, Black Mountain Ranch, Del Mar, Solana Beach and the areas surrounding the SDG&E 230 KV Power Lines," said Cal Fire Captain Kendal Bortisser.

The fire is under unified command of Cal Fire, San Diego Fire, and Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department.

For a full list of areas ordered evacuated, as of late this afternoon, and road closures,  click “read more” and scroll down, where tips on preparing for an approaching wildfire are also posted.

Update: Powerlines are down, however resources are now being released. 

May 13, 2013 (Dulzura) – Cal-Fire and other units have responded to brush fires on Highway 94 in the Dulzura area.  Firefighters are on scene awaiting additional ground support.  High winds and proximity of power lines may limit access.

Some residents in the area are without power, SDG&E reports.  The outage affects Steele Canyon High School and Jamul School as well as the communities of La Presa/ Spring Valley/ Rancho San Diego/ Jamacha/ W Jamul/ Indian Springs/ Dulzura/ Potrero/ Campo/ Jamul/ N Jamul/ Lyons Valley/ Sunnyside/ Otay.

May 13, 2014 (Jacumba) – Tanya Wilkins Aiau snapped this image a 4:45 p.m. on May 5^th of a brush fire near her Jacumba home--a fire that she reported to 911.

“I was just passing the Golden Acorn on east bound I-8 when I saw smoke. I didn't have any cell phone service and couldn't tell exactly where the fire was from that distance,” she said. “When I rounded the corner by the billboard (advertising the Rio Bend RV park) at the West end of Walker Canyon I could see flames. I used a call box to call in the fire; the first firetruck passed me while I was on the phone."

May 10, 2014 (Sacramento) -- California State Board of Equalization (BOE) Member and Chair of the Customer Service and Administrative Efficiency Committee Betty T. Yee will host a telephone town hall on May 13, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. to educate entrepreneurs on their rights and responsibilities as California tax and feepayers. BOE Chairman Jerome E. Horton, Vice Chair Michelle Steel, Board Member George Runner, and State Controller John Chiang are also sponsors of this event who encourage California taxpayers to participate and learn more about their rights.

E - The Environmental Magazine

Photo by Sid Sowder, courtesy Flicker

Dear EarthTalk: I recently became vegetarian for ethical reasons, but I am missing the taste of meat. Are there any tasty veggie options out there that can satisfy my desire for steak and chicken?    

                                                                                                             -- Missy Jenkins, Pittsburgh, PA

May 10, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Aside from its brutal treatment of livestock animals, the meat industry is no doubt one of the worst offenders when it comes to the environment. Producing one kilogram of beef requires 150 square meters of land and 15,000 liters of water, most of which is used to grow feed for the animal. That same kilogram generates 27 kilograms of climate-altering carbon dioxide, the equivalent of driving a car more than 100 miles. Indeed, beef has 13 times the carbon emissions of an equivalent amount of vegetable-based protein.

May 9, 2014 (San Diego) – Mylar balloons can make great Mother’s Day and graduation gifts, if they’re kept indoors or securely tied down, but they can also pose a safety hazard.  San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today urged customers to be aware of the dangers that can arise when Mylar balloons touch power lines.