By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Car on tree in San Diego, courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

April 30, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – High winds caused damage across East County today, with hurricane-force gusts up to 101 miles per hour  recorded on Sill Hill near Cuyamaca.  

In Buckman Springs, motorists trapped in a car beneath a fallen tree limb had to be rescued.  Interstate 8 east of Alpine was closed temporarily due to high winds. A fallen eucalyptus tree blocked Otay Lakes Road late this morning. Most tragically, a wind-whipped fire that scorched an acre near Plaza Bonita mall killed a person, whose burned body  was found near a transient camp.

Power outages occurred across East County. In Descanso, some residents were without power for 13 hours, from 6:30 a.m. until approximately 9:30 p.m., ECM correspondent Sharon Penny reports.