By Henri Migala and Miriam Raftery

Photos and videos by Henri Migala

December 3, 2020 (Rancho San Diego) – Thanks to the valiant response of firefighters from multiple districts across the region, the #WillowFire in Rancho San Diego was held to 30 acres overnight.  One home was destroyed and six others damaged, according to Cal Fire. 

But the damage could have been far worse, given that the fire started after dark amid howling Santa Ana wind conditions. (Video of high winds)

The fire started around 10:30 p.m. on Willow Glen Drive near Hillsdale Rd., swiftly racing through a canyon. Flames soon engulfed a home atop the ridge and scorched others, prompting late-night evacuations and a long night for both firefighters and residents.

Update December 9, 2017: A boil water has been aded for Vallecito County Park, 37349 Great Southern Overland in Julian, as well as the sites below.

December 8, 2017 (San Diego's East County)--The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Advisory and Public Notification effective immediately for the following:  

• Boulevard Pines Mobile Home & RV Park at 39375 Old Highway 80, Boulevard, CA 91905
• Butterfield Ranch at 14925 Great Southern Overland, Julian, CA, 92036
• Cameron Corners at 31484 Hwy 94, Campo, CA 91906
• Campo Group at 31471 Hwy 94, Campo, CA 91906 

Due to the recent power outage, these public water systems have lost pressure in their water distribution systems.  As a precaution, Boil Water Advisories are being issued until laboratory results demonstrate the water is free from bacterial contamination. 

Click here for instructions on boiling water and alternative methods of disinfection

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.

September 27, 2012 (La Mesa) – A resident sleeping in an apartment at 5300 Marengo Avenue was awakened this afternoon by smoke. Seeing flames coming from her stove, she tried to douse the fire with water, which caused the fire to spread. She then evacuated the apartment, which suffered $50,000 in damages to the structure and contents.

Update May 18, 2012 (8 a.m.) -- The fire is now 60% contained at 150 acres on the U.S. side, with full contained expected by tonight and full control by tomorrow night, according to Cal-Fire's Roxanne Provaznik. 

Currently there are 20 engines, 8 fire crews, 4 water tenders, 1 air tanker, and 4 helicopters assigned to fight the fire.

Update 1:20 p.m. - The fire has burned 15-20 acres on the U.S. side of the border, Incident  Page Network and Cal-Fire report.  Additional strike forces teams were ordered however Cal-Fire Roxanne Provaznik now states that good progress is being made on the fire and that two of four air tankers have been released. 

May 17, 2012 (San Diego's East County)--CAL FIRE/San Diego Fire Authority is on the scene of a brush fire along the U.S./Mexico border.  The fire in Mexico is approximately 600 acres and has just crossed into the U.S. 

September 1, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--Effective today, fire restrictions on the Cleveland National Forest have been moved to the “Elevated” level. The increase in fire restrictions is due to dryer fuel conditions, higher temperatures, and the likelihood of small fires becoming larger fires.

July 6, 2011 (McCain Valley) – Cal-Fire and the San Diego County Fire Authority have announced cancellation of plans to conduct controlled brush fire training tomorrow, July 7,  the McCain Valley area of East County. Cal Fire Captain Mike Mohler advises.

January 27, 2011 (Deerhorn Valley) – Daniel Alphonse Ignosci, a retired San Diego Fire Department captain and long-time resident of Deerhorn Valley, died January 7, 2011 at age 70.

January 1, 2011 (San Diego) – A New Year’s Day hike at Mission Trails Park was cut short when a hiker became injured, prompting a technical rescue. Incident Page Network reports that San Diego Fire Department dispatched a helicopter to provide a hoist rescue since the area was inaccessible to an ambulance by ground.

September 20, 2010 (La Mesa) – Firefighters from La Mesa and San Diego Fire departments swiftly halted a brush fire that began at Connecticut Avenue and Delaware Avenue in La Mesa this afternoon, spreading onto a hillside at Del Cerro Boulevard and Elaine Way. The two-acre fire was extinguished with no homes damaged and no injuries.

By Miriam Raftery
 

July 31, 2010 (San Diego) – “Countywide, there are approximately 240 firefighters from San Diego at fires in the north,” Cal-Fire battalion chief Nick Schuler told East County Magazine today. That includes the Crown Fire southwest of Palmdale in Los Angeles County, which has scorched 13,918 acres and is 62% contained. In Kern County, another large blaze has charred 1,658 acres and is 85% contained.
 

About 220 of the 240 local firefighters deployed in northern regions are Cal Fire personnel, including 128 inmate firefighters. Cal-Fire employees a total of 500 people in San Diego County, Schuler said.

June 29, 2010 (San Diego) -- Concerned about potentially deeper cuts to fire safety, San Diego City Councilmember Marti Emerald is pushing for a new Council policy. She will introduce the new safety plan at the Public Safety and Neighborhood Services Committee on Wednesday, June 30th, at 2 p.m.
 

“Fire engines are already browned out affecting response times. The last thing we want to do is water down our Fire and Rescue Services even more,” says Emerald.

Update June 17 10 am - The Narrows Fire is now 60% contained, with full containment expected by noon today, according to Chief Schuler.

JUNE 16, 2010 (Julian) – A 100 acre brush fire burning east of Julian is 50% contained, Cal-Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler has informed East County Magazine. The fire started at Highway 78 and Scissors Crossing, east of S2 and north of Shelter Valley and has burned acreage on both sides of 78.