North County Inland

North County Inland

ACADEMY FIRE IN SAN PASQUAL VALLEY HALTED

By Miriam Raftery

May 16, 2025 (San Pasqual)—The #AcademyFire has been halted at 49.7 acres, according to Cal Fire, with no structures lost or injuries. The fire briefly threatened structures along Highland Valley Road in the San Pasqual Valley east of Escondido.

The blaze began this afternoon in the 7700 Block of San Pasqual Valley Road (State Route 78) in San Pasqual Valley near the San Pasqual Academy, a boarding school for foster youths.


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WILD BAT FOUND INSIDE SAFARI PARK TESTS POSITIVE FOR RABIES 

 

batRabies is nearly always fatal without treatment

Image Credit: PhotoSpin

Source: San Diego County News Service

May 10, 2025 (Escondido) -- County public health officials are looking for people who may have come in contact with a wild bat found at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondidio on Wednesday, May 7 at 10:45 a.m. that later tested positive for rabies.    

The bat was found at the base of the public elevator in the African Loop near the hot air ballon ride. There is only one public elevator in the park.


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REP. ISSA HOLDS PUBLICITY APPEARANCE AT MCDONALD’S, AFTER PROTESTERS LEAVE

By Miriam Raftery

April 26, 2025 (San Diego)-- Congressman Darrell Issa announced plans to hand out “Freedom Fries” at a McDonald’s in San Marcos on Thursday, April 24th.

But after word got out that protesters planned to picket the event, 12 noon arrived—and Issa didn’t, until after protesters left.


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STATE DECLARES CITRUS QUARANTINE EXPANSION IN VALLEY CENTER

By County News Center, County of San Diego Communications Office

April 4, 2025 (San Diego) - The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) declared a citrus quarantine expansion in Valley Center on March 26, after detecting the fatal citrus tree disease known as Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening, in two citrus trees in residential neighborhoods in the Valley Center area during regular inspections.   


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TWO SAN DIEGO POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS IDENTIFIED IN FATAL SHOOTING

SWAT officers fatally shot 59-year-old man holding pest control worker at gunpoint 
 
By G. A. McNeeley 
 
April 1, 2025 (Miramar Ranch) — On March 25, at about 12:09 p.m., San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officers responded to a report of a man pointing a handgun at construction workers and then at a pest control officer in the 11600 block of Angelique Street in San Diego’s Miramar Ranch neighborhood.

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VALLEY VIBES COMMUNITY EVENT IS SET FOR JUNE 1 IN ESCONDIDO TO FUND CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Organizers are seeking a headline sponsor

 

East County News Service

 

March 26, 2025 (Escondido) -- Mark your calendars for Valley Vibes, a free, family-friendly fiesta with interactive exhibits, great food, crafts and live music courtesy of North Park Rock-n-Blues Band. Valley Vibes will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 1, at the Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead, 12655 Sunset Drive, Escondido. The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy and San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority are hosting the free event to celebrate nature and draw attention to the organizations’ conservation, education and recreation programs.


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SHERIFF INVESTIGATING “SUSPICIOUS” BURIAL IN VALLEY CENTER

East County News Service

March 21, 2025 (Valley Center) – Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call yesterday reporting that a family member who recently passed away was buried on the family property in the 29000 block of Paso Robles Road, Valley Center.  Deputies found a grave that appeared recent.


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ACTIVISTS TO HOLD EMPTY CHAIR TOWN HALL MARCH 23, AFTER REP. ISSA REFUSES CONSTITUENTS’ REQUESTS FOR MEETING

LIVESTREAMING UPDATE:   For those unable to attend  in-person, here are platforms where organizers plan to livestream this event:  

By Miriam Raftery

March 14, 2025 (Escondido) – After weeks of rebuffed requests for Congressman Darrell Issa  (R-48)to hold a community townhall to discuss constituents’ concerns, activists have scheduled an “Empty Chair Town Hall” at the California Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, March 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The event, hosted by Dr. Allison Gill from the "Mueller, She Wrote" podcast, will provide constituents with the opportunity to voice questions and concerns they would typically address directly to their congressional representative, particularly regarding potential cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and Veterans Services.

Following recommendations outlined in the "Indivisible Guide" (indivisible.org/resource/guide), this Empty Chair Town Hall is part of a nationwide effort encouraged by Indivisible National during the congressional recess from March 13-23.

"When our elected officials refuse to engage with their constituents, democracy suffers," said  Pamela Albergo of Indivisible North County San Diego. "Rep. Issa hasn't held a town hall since 2017, but the concerns of his constituents haven't gone away."


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SCRIPPS RANCH THEATRE ANNOUNCES MARY’S WEDDING APRIL 4-27

East County News Service

 

Photos by Ken Jacques

 

March 13, 2025 (Scripps Ranch) -- Scripps Ranch Theatre continues its Season 45 with Mary’s Wedding, written by Stephen Massicotte. Directed by Kate Rose Reynolds, the production runs April 4th - 27th on the campus of Alliant International University. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There will be a preview performance on Friday, April 4th with a Press Opening on Saturday, April 5th at 7:30 p.m. Patrons can purchase Tickets online at https://scrippsranchtheatre.org/showtickets/ or contact SRT Patron Services at 858-395-0573. 


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ARREST MADE FOR SUSPECTED ARSON IN PALA AND LILAC FIRES

Source: Cal Fire

March 2, 2025 (San Diego) – Cal Fire law enforcement investigators have arrested Ruben Vasquez on multiple felony arson charges following an extensive investigation into two wildland fires that ignited on January 21. The fires, known as the Pala Fire and the Lilac Fire, started 25 minutes apart near Interstate 15 and State Route 76 in the Pala Mesa and Bonsall areas.


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PROTEST FRIDAY AT REP. ISSA’S LOCAL OFFICE TO DEMAND TOWNHALL MEETING OVER DISMANTLING OF FEDERAL AGENCIES

East County News Service

February 20, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) -- Activists from Fallbrook, Escondido, Julian, and Ramona will gather at Congressman Darrell Issa’s office on February 21, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. to demand an in-person town hall meeting. The protest will take place at 210 W. Crest Street, Escondido, California. 

The rally, organized by Indivisible North County San Diego, aims to address critical issues facing the community, including the urgent need for transparency and accountability from elected officials. Issa, San Diego County's only Republican Congressional member, has been a staunch supporters of President Donald Trump to date.

Activists will call on Congressman Issa to engage directly with his constituents and to stand firm against the illegal dismantling of federal agencies orchestrated by Elon Musk.  

“Congressman Issa has a responsibility to represent the voices of his constituents, and that includes holding town hall meetings where we can express our concerns,” said Pam Albergo, a spokesperson for Indivisible North County San Diego. “We are here to demand that he stands up against the reckless actions that undermine our government and its agencies.”


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LILAC FIRE IN BONSALL SPARKS EVACUATIONS, HOMES BURNED

Update 4 p.m.:  Evacuations have been listed and forward spread has been stopped.

Update 11 a.m. -- The evacuation center at Castle Creek Golf Course has closed. Evacutees should go to Riverview Church,4980 Sweetgrass Lane in Bonsall.

January 21, 2025 (Bonsall) -- The #LilacFire in Bonsall has burned 80 acres and destroyed two homes, with 10% containment.  Mandatory evacuations have been ordered. The fire is burning along Old Highway 395 and North Lilac Rd.

View evacuation areas at the Genaysis mapping site.  An evacuation center is at the Castle Creek Golf Course, 8797 Circle R Drive in Escondido 92026.  Large animals can be taken to the CRC Ranch at 43101 Anza Rd in Temecula - per San Diego Sheriff's on X.

All schools in Bonsall are closed today due to the fire, according to the Bonsall Unified School District.

A second blaze that started overnight, the Pala Fire, is 100% contained at 17 acres. That fire was located west of I-15 and 2 miles north of Highway 76 in Pala.


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STRUCTURES THREATENED IN TED WILLIAMS FIRE

Update 4 p.m.:  Forward spread has been stopped and fixed-wing aircraft dismissed, though helicopters remain on scene.

East County News Service

January 20, 2025 (Poway) – Structures are immediately threatened by a brush fire in Poway.  The #TedWilliamsFire is burning along Ted Williams Parkway and Pomerado Road. 

Evacuations are being conducted near Glen Oak Road, Watch Duty App reports. Evacuation details: www.AlertSD.org.

The blaze has charred three acres thus far and comes amid a Red Flag Alert due to dry conditions and potential for very high winds.


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BOMB THREAT AT HARRAH’S IN VALLEY CENTER PROVES HOAX

East County News Service

File photo by Miriam Raftery

 

December 10, 2024 (Valley Center) — A bomb threat from an anonymous caller yesterday morning prompted a safety sweep at Harrah’s Resort Southern California on the Rincon tribe’s reservation in Valley Center. Resort staff found a backpack in an unauthorized area.


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SDG&E SHUTS OFF POWER DUE TO FIRE DANGER; MORE COMMUNITIES FACE POTENTIAL OUTAGES INCLUDING MOST OF EAST COUNTY

By Miriam Raftery, East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

December 9, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – With a red flag warning in effect from the National Weather Service due to high fire danger today through Friday, SDG&E has begun public safety power shutoffs affecting 8,949 customers in Alpine, Boulevard, Campo, Descanso, Jacumba and Jamul. There are also unplanned outages in Julian and Borrego Springs. However, up to 108,619 more customers may face planned power outages between now and December 13 at noon, according to SDG&E, including most East County communities.

Communities at risk of outages in San Diego County include the Barona reservation, Borrego Springs, the Campo reservation, Capitan Grande reservation, Cardiff, Chula Vista, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Granite Hills, Jamul Indian Village, Julian, La Jolla Reservation, Lakeside, La Mesa, La Posta reservation, Lakeside, Los Coyotes Reservation, Manzanita reservation, Mesa Grande reservation, Pala,

Pala reservation, Pauma Valley, Pauma reservation, Poway, Ramona, Ranchita, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Santa Fe, Rincon reservation, San Diego, San Marcos, San Pasqual Reservation, Santa Ysabel, Santa Ysabel reservation, Santee, Solana Beach, Sycuan  reservation, Valley Center, Viejas Reservation, and Warner Springs.

Community Resource Centers are open in many communities.  For a list of community resource centers, see https://www.sdge.com/psps-dashboard.


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COUSIN OF ECM PHOTOGRAPHER MAULED BY PACK OF PIT BULL DOGS; FUNDS NEEDED TO HELP PAY MEDICAL BILLS

By Miriam Raftery

December 9, 2024 (San Diego) – A 15-year-old San Marcos girl is fighting for her life after suffering serious injuries. After running away from a treatment facility in North County, she was found in Mendocino “on the side of a highway, barely alive, some 600 miles away. Marielynn Watson was the victim of a horrific attack from a pack of off-leash dogs,” says Ron Logan, an East County Magazine photographer and cousin of the injured teen.

Logan, along with Marielynn’s father, David Watson, have started a GoFundMe site to help cover medical expenses for Marielynn, who remains hospitalized after multiple surgeries, with more needed.

“When I first saw her, I almost passed out,” Watson told ECM, adding that he was unemployed at the time of the attack by several pit bull dogs and has no insurance to cover his daughter’s medical bills. In addition to worrying about his daughter’s health, he is concerned that he could face financial ruin as the medical bills mount.


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POWAY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA TO OPEN 2024-2025 CONCERT SEASON WITH FAMED ROMEROS GUITAR QUARTET

“Trip to Spain” concert on Nov. 17 will feature music with a Spanish flair

 

Source:  Poway Symphony Orchestra

 

October 26, 2024 (Poway) – The Poway Symphony Orchestra will open its 21st concert season

with “A Trip to Spain with The Romeros,” presenting a program of lively Spanish-inspired music

and featuring the world-renowned Romeros guitar quartet. The concert will take place on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. at the Poway Center for Performing Arts.


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ETERNAMENTE: A DIA DE LOS MUERTOS SPECTACULAR SHOW OCT. 6 IN POWAY

East County News Service

September 23, 2024 (Poway) -- Poway OnStage invites you to Eternamente: Dia de los Muertos Spectacular  on October 6 at 2:00 p.m. This celebration of life features lively music, dance, beautiful costumes, and a virtual altar to pay tribute to the departed. There will also be a meet and greet with the cast after the show in the lobby of the Poway Center for Performing Arts.


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EVACUATIONS ORDERED IN ESCONDIDO DUE TO LITHIUM ION BATTERY STORAGE FIRE, POTENTIAL FOR TOXIC FUMES

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update September 7, 2024: The fire has been extinguished. All evacuation orders have been lifted.

Update September 6, 2024:  The Escondido Union School District closed multilpe schools today.  Businesses in the area remained closed and evacuation orders continue. According to SDG&E, lithium ion battery storage fires must burn themselves out.

September 5, 2024 (Escondido) -- Evacuations have been ordered and road closures are in effect in Escondido, just west of I-15 and south of state route 78, due to a fire at a battery storage facility. Such fires have the potential to release toxic fumes.  Enterprise Street is closed between Mission Road and Auto Park Way.

There is an immediate threat to life, so residents are urged to leave immediately. The area is closed for the public to enter. View map of evacuation zones.

Evacuees should go to Pala Casino, or to Pueblo Bank and Trust Company, 11154 Highway 76,Pala,CA.


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ROADS, BRIDGES AND FLOOD CONTROL MTG 8/25 AT VALLEY CENTER LIBRARY

 
Photo courtesy: Department of Public Works
 
September 3, 2024 (Valley Center) -- Join County representatives in Valley Center to discuss an evolving 2025-2030 Community Improvement Plan (CIP). This meeting is the final Wednesday in September, the 25th, from 6-7 p.m. at the Valley Center Library located at 29200 Cole Grade Rd, Valley Center, CA 92082.

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BACK TO SCHOOL TALENT BASH SEPT. 28 IN NORTH COUNTY INLAND

East County News Service
 
July 30, 2024 (Escondido) -- Patio Playhouse Community Theater will present its second annual Back to School Talent Bash, September 28th, under the stars at Kit Carson Park Amphitheater 100 Amphitheater Dr, Escondido, CA 92025.
 
Patio Playhouse will be presenting a special Back to School Talent show September 28th at 7 p.m. Youth 5 - 19 years of age are invited to participate. Talents may include (but not limited to) singing, dancing, instrumental music, skits, magic, comedy, martial arts, juggling, (no lip syncing).  Cash prizes will be given for the 1st ($200), 2nd ($150), and 3rd place ($100) winners.

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NIXON FIRE NOW 3,500 ACRES: 2,000 HOMES AT RISK IN RIVERSIDE AND SAN DIEGO COUNTIES

 

Update 8:30 p.m.The Nixon Fire has swelled to 3,500 acres, per pilot estimates reported on Watch Duty App.  A helitanker will be working the fire through the night, though some other air drops have been halted overnight. Winds have been shifting and there is no containment as darkness falls.

Per Cal Fire, nearly 2,000 residences are affected by evacuation orders and warnings.  This includes Sunshine Summit in San Diego County, where residents report Sheriff's deputies advising them to evacuate tonight, as well as in Aguanga, Cahuillo and possibly other communities in this rapidly evolving situation.

 

Update 6 p.m.-- The fire is now 1,000, burning into Beauty Mountain Wilderness. Homes remain threatened.  Additional large air tankers and other resources have been requestesd by the incident commander, Watch Duty app reports.

By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2024 (Aguanga, CA) – A fast moving brush fire that started between Aguanga and Anza is threatening numerous homes and has sparked evacuation orders and warnings in Aguanga and on the Cahuilla reservation.  The fire in Riverside County is just over the San Diego County line, a few miles of Warner Springs.

It is burning eastward and per Cal Fire is currently around 295 acres with 0% containment. 

An evacuation center has been opened at Temecula Valley High School (31555 Rancho Vistas Rd., Temecula).  Animal services will be on site to assist with animals.

The fire has a dangerous rate of spread,per the incident commander and news photographers on site.


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GROVE FIRE UPDATE, MOST EVACUATION ORDERS LIFTED

 
East County News Service
 
Photo, right, by Chet Kalinowska
 
July 25, 2024 (Sunshine Summit) -- CAL FIRE San Diego has an update on the Grove Fire burning near Warner Springs, which was caused by lightning.
 
Please refer to the map below to see the changes made to the evacuation order and warning.
 
The red area remains under an evacuation order.
 
The yellow areas remain under an evacuation warning. Evacuated residents can return home but are strongly encouraged to REMAIN READY to leave if fire conditions change. If you need extra time to evacuate, you are advised to stay clear of the area

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EVACUATIONS IN GROVE FIRE NEAR WARNER SPRINGS

Update 12:46 p.m. per CAL FIRE San Diego County Fire: #GroveFire [update] the fire is now 900 acres and 10% contained. The cause has been determined to be lightning. Read the latest in Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association.

Update 8:38 a.m. 7/25 from Sekhar Padmanabhan a Staff Reporter on Watch Duty app: Evacuation order downgraded to a warning for zone SDC-0075. Fire holding at 816 acres.

Photo, right by Chet Kalinowski

Update 7:42 p.m. 7/24 from Liam Winstead: "FIRIS has mapped the fire at 816 acres. The permineter can be viewed by toggling on the Active Fire Perimeters layer on the Watch Duty map. Note that perimeters are preliminary and do not reflect any structure protection efforts by firefighters on the ground."

 

07/24/2024 07:14 PM PDT

Large Animal Shelter Opened at Ramona High School for Grove Fire

 

Per the San Diego Sheriff Department, residents impacted by the Grove Fire EVACUATION ORDERS with large animals can go to Ramona High School located at 1401 Hanson Lane, Ramona, CA 92065.

For those under an EVACUATION WARNING, always take into consideration that large animals take extra time to evacuate. It's best to leave now or prepare early so you are ready to go.

Follow @SDSheriff and @CALFIRESANDIEGO for updates.

For an interactive map with updated emergency information, visit: OES Emergency Map

Update 5 p.m.  Evacuation orders have been issued in the #Grove Fire, which is now 400 acres with potential for 2,000,  Find map and evacuation details at https://www.alertsandiego.org.  Evacuation center is at Warner Springs High.

Update: 4 p.m. the #GroveFire is now at 250-300 acres

Update: 3 p.m. the #GroveFire is now at 50 acres

By Jonathan Goetz and Miriam Raftery

Photos courtesy: Watch Duty app, San Diego Sheriff and East County Magazine

July 24, 2024 (Sunshine Summit) -- CAL-Fire is at scene of a vegetation #GroveFire in the area of Dodge Valley in the community of Sunshine Summit. The fire is 15 acres with a moderate rate of spread. Additional resources have been ordered, per CAL-Fire on X.

Download Watch Duty app 


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HIGHWAY 67 CLOSED NORTH OF POWAY ROAD DUE TO #MINAFIRE

By Jonathan Goetz

Update 6:27 p.m. per Caltrans: SR-67 all lanes reopen to traffic.

July 21, 2024 (Poway) -- Highway 67 is closed northbound at Poway Road and southbound at Archie Moore, reports Caltrans San Diego on X, due to the #MinaFire.


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STATE WITHDRAWS PLACEMENT OF SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR IN POWAY

By Miriam Raftery
 
July 13, 2024 (Poway) – The proposed placement of sexually violent predator Merle Wade Wakefield at a home on Sycamore Ranch Road in Poway has been revoked by the California Department of State Hospitals, after vocal community opposition. The state has not provided a reason for the withdrawal. 

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18 LOCAL WATER SYSTEMS FAIL SAFE DRINKING WATER STANDARDS; 16 MORE ARE AT RISK

Update: Hear our in-depth interviews with state water officials, originally aired on KNSJ 89.1 FM Radio.
 
By Miriam Raftery
 
July 3, 2024 (San Diego) – The State of California has released its 2023 Drinking Water Needs Assessment, including a dashboard listing water systems that failed state or federal standards for safe drinking water. In San Diego County, 18 water systems failed repeated tests due to contaminants that include arsenic, uranium, nitrate, nitrite, manganese, E-coli, heavy metals, and more, including numerous water providers in East County. Sixteen other local water systems are at risk or potentially at risk. Also see: California Open Data.
 
Failing means the water system failed to meet one or more state or federal standards. However, it does not necessarily mean the water is unsafe. A system can be put on the list if there are serious financial issues that prevent it from cleaning up the water, for instance. Some systems may have multiple wells, and be able to continue providing clean, safe water through other wells.  Some may have only a temporary problem, while others may require costly long-term solutions.
 
Disadvantaged communities in California may be eligible for state grants to help restore safe drinking water under the SAFER (Safe and Affordable funding for equity and resilience) program.

Audio: 


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SAN DIEGO MAN ADVANCES TO SEMI-FINALS ON NBC’S AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR

By Michael Howard
 
Alex Nye takes a selfie during his June 3 American Ninja Warrior (NBC) appearance where he qualified for the semi-finals. Photo courtesy Alex Nye. 
 
July 1, 2024 (Escondido) -- Escondido resident Alex Nye remembers the first time he seriously considered competing for NBC’s obstacle course reality show American Ninja Warrior. He and his brother were fans of the program and decided for his brother’s bachelor party to attempt a ninja course at a New Jersey gym.

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CLOSURES AT THREE LOCAL LAKES PREVENTED

By Miriam Raftery
 
June 25, 2024 (San Diego) – Following an outcry by rural residents and Supervisor Joel Anderson, the City of San Diego has revised its budget to eliminate proposed temporary closures of the reservoir at El Capitan in Lakeside, Lake Sutherland in Ramona, and Lake Hodges in Escondido.
 
In a post on the Friends of the San Diego Lakes Facebook page today, Supervisor Anderson states, “WE DID IT! WE STOPPED THE CLOSURES of EL CAP, SUTHERLAND AND HODGES IN 2025. LOTSA PEOPLE TO THANK FOR THIS.”
 
Though located in the County unincorporated areas, the reservoirs are owned by the city of San Diego. 

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DEL MAR BRUSH FIRE: 2500 EVACUATED, FAIRGROUNDS OPENED AS TEMPORARY EVACUATION CENTER

Update: Evacuation orders have been lifted but certain areas remain closed to vehicle traffic.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts 

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

June 25, 2024 (Del Mar) -- A fire in Del Mar has burned 19 acres, resulting in mandatory evacuations for 2500 people, though firefighters have halted the fire's forward spread. Evacuees are being directed to the Del Mar Fairgrounds, where the San Diego County Fair is underway.

If you are going to the Fair, be aware that traffic and air quality have also been negatively impacted. Del Mar Heights and Carmel Valley Rd. exits are both closed due to the fire. Air quality is impacted as far east as Poway.


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