By Miriam Raftery

Photos and video by Josh Stotler

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Updated Sept. 10, 2025 with latest damage assessment based on a report from Lakeside's Fire Marshal

September 9, 2025 (Lakeside) – Swift action by firefighters including aerial attacks held yesterday’s Coches Fire to 5.3 acres, but the damage was substantial. Five homes were destroyed, including three mobilehomes at the Monterey Mobile Lodge, according to Lakeside Fire Protection District's Fire  Marshal Jeremy Davis, following a walkaround of the burned sites and perimeter areas  Three other homes in the mobilehome park were damaged, and a detached garage also had damage.

Cal Fire Captain Mike Cornette told ECM photographer Josh Stotler that 10 to 15 vehicles wer eburned. There were also two reported civilian injuries, a burn victim and another person who suffered smoke inhalation, said Cornette.

The losses and close calls draw attention to the need to improve safety of mobile homes to protect against wildfires, since even the swiftest possible firefighting response to yesterday's fire could not prevent loss of property--and very nearly human life.

Resident Sharon Edwards has been lauded as an “angel” for rescuing her neighbor, 90-year-old Evelyn Buhl, who is blind and cannot walk.  “I didn’t smell anything … until my neighbor came banging on my house and got me out of here, but that’s the only way,” Buhl said, Times of San DIego reports. “I would still have been in there.”

Update:  At least 3 mobile home parks are burning, per air attack, ECM has learned.  Planes and helicopters are on scene.  An addition 15 engines and 2 helicopters have been requested by incident command and air attack. 

Evacuees can go to Viejas Casino.

September 8, 2025 (Lakeside) -- There is an immediate structure threat from the #CochesFire that started minutes ago on the I-8 business loop east of Las Coches Road, Watch Duty App reports.

An evacuation order has been issued for Zone SDC-1683 on the Genasys Evacuation Map. This zone is also viewable on the Watch Duty map.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Fire officials with an SDG&E Blackhawk helicopter

September 5, 2025 (El Cajon) – Firefighting helicopters from multiple agencies were on display during a press conference held Aug. 26 at SDG&E's hangar at Gillespie Field in El Cajon. 

Officials touted aerial assets and cooperative efforts as we enter the highest danger season, though wildfires now occur year-round.

Fire officials urged the public to help prevent fires, keep drones away from fire scenes, and be prepared in case evacuation becomes necessary.

Story and photos by Josh Stotler

August 25, 2025 (La Mesa) -- Just before 3:30 p.m. , a structure fire broke out in the under-construction building slated to house  T. J. Maxx and an Ulta beauty store on the former site of the Toys “R” Us at 8800 Grossmont Center Drive in La Mesa.

As the first engines arrived, thick, black smoke and flames could be seen coming from the roof of the structure with stranded construction workers shouting and waving for help.

An employee of a nearby business claimed she “heard a loud explosion” before the fire broke out.

Update 3:20 p.m.-- Evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted; forward spread has been stopped.

Update 1:30 p.m.-- The fire has been mapped at 88 acres and is now 5% contained. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place.

East County WIldfire and Emergency Alerts

August 8, 2025 -- There is immediate structure threat from the #RoadrunnerFire, a brush fire that began at Roadrunner Lane and Ribbonwood Road. The fire has burned 25 acres and has zero containment.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has issued Evacuation Orders and Warnings for nearby areas, all north of I-8 as of 12:55 p.m.  For an interactive map with updated emergency evacuation information visit: OES Emergency Map

The temporary evacuation point is located at : Golden Acorn Casino (1800 Golden Acorn Way, Campo 91906).

An Evacuation Order requires immediate movement out of the affected area due to an imminent threat to life.

Tsumani could reach Hawaii and Alaska this evening, San Diego shortly after midnight, with risk of more tidal waves due to powerful aftershocks.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Note:  An earlier tsunami watch has been upgraded to a tsunami advisory.

July 29, 2025 (San Diego) – The National Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami advisory for the entire West Coast including San Diego County after , an 8.8 quake, struck Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula late this afternoon. This is among the 10 strongest quakes ever recorded worldwide. The quake has been upgraded  from earlier estimates.

Aftershocks including a 6.7 quake have also occurred.

The quakes and aftershocks have potential to produce tsunamis, or tidal waves, posing life-threatening danger.

Avoid low-lying coastal areas until the tsunami advisory is lifted.  The earliest a tsunami could reach San Diego County is estimated at around 1:15 a.m. for La Jolla and Oceanside, slightly later in the South Bay and earlier for Northern California, Alaska and Canada.

The advisory extends indefinitely due to powerful aftershocks that produce additional risks. 

By Paul Levikow

Image, left: rendering of future Fire State 18

July 17, 2025 (Crest) – San Miguel Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Tobin Riley appeared before the Crest Community Association Thursday to provide an update on construction of Fire Station 18 on the corner of Suncrest Boulevard and North Lane. The update was provided after Facebook posts by concerned residents wondered why the lot has been sitting empty for so long.

“Perception is reality, people drive by, they see the dirt lot not moving and they have the right to ask questions,” Riley said. “The station is being built in phases.”

Fire officials announce other upgrades in fire protection for Crest

By Paul Levikow

July 14, 2025 (Crest) – For years, Crest residents have asked the County to create an additional evacuation route on Suncrest Truck Trail to protect residents in the rural community that was devasted in the 2003 Cedar Fire.  In response to a reader’s request, ECM looked into the matter. 

While officials from the County and Cal Fire say Suncrest Truck Trail is not a viable option for several reasons, many other steps are being taken to improve fire safety for Crest.

Update:  All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted.

Story, videos and photos by Josh Stotler

View videos: https://youtu.be/usGRn-FQPg0   and https://youtu.be/2vITCTQMPl4

July 9, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Firefighters have held the #SteeleFire to 28 acres. As of this evening, the fire is 25% contained, with no structures lost, according to Cal Fire, despite interference by a drone temporarily pausing aerial firefighting. 

Evacuation warnings have been lifted along with most evacuation orders, though an evacuation order remains for zone  SDC-2098-B.  For the latest evacuation updates, visit  Genasys Protect Evacuation Map.

East County News Service

June 30, 2025 (Santee) -- Sheriff's Deputies and Santee Fire personnel responded to a report of a fire near the Walmart on Town Center Parkway in Santee around 6:32 p.m. on June 28. As deputies were driving to the location, a second witness called Sheriff's Dispatch and reported they watched a man set fire to contents of a trashcan just outside the Walmart parking lot.

Deputies arrived on scene and detained the suspect, later identified as 30-year-old Ryan Crist, says Lieutenant Thomas Fletcher.

East County News Service

June 23, 2025 -- Photographer Shiloh Ireland provided this video of Lakeside residents Sarah Ann WIlson and BIlly Ortiz unfurling a banner to thank firefighters who worked tirelessly to protect homes and halt the Monte Fire in Lakeside's El Monte Valley.

View video:  Monte Fire Appreciation to Firefighters- 06/21/2025 

Also see Ireland's drone video showing the scope of damage:  Monte Fire Lakeside, California 

East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts

Update June 20:  The #MonteFire has burned over 1,000 acres and is 65% contained.

Image by Josh Stotler, East County Magazine:  Helicopter scoops water to fight fire on day one of #MonteFire

June 18, 2025 (Lakeside)-- On day three of the #MonteFire,  976 acres have burned and the wildfire fire is 25% containment.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office has lifted an evacuation order for an area off El Monte due to improved containment of the fire. If you had to evacuate your home in this area, it is now safe to return. All other evacuation orders and warnings, which are in remote areas away from homes, remain in place until further notice. To see maps of the affected areas, visit: https://protect.genasys.com/hazards/2f3488c6-736d-4161-aff6-a7729a7e28c0?z=14&latlon=32.89795864312755%2C-116.83490992590015 and https://emergencymap.sandiegocounty.gov/index.html.

The Temporary Evacuation Point at the Walmart Supercenter, located at 13487 Camino Canada in El Cajon, will be closed.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo: Red areas are under mandatory evacuation orders as of 5 p.m. Yellow areas have evacuation warnings.  View interactive map here for latest evacuation updates. This is the county's map which has more details than others.  

Find out what evacuation zone you are in by typing your address here:  https://protect.genasys.com/search?z=14&latlon=32.794773%2C-116.962527

Update 6:44 p.m.-- Fire size: The fire is 340 acres and 10% contained, per Cal Fire.

Update 6:18 p.m.  Road closures: Due to the #MonteFire, the following roads are closed to thru traffic and open to residents only: • Lake Jennings Rd & El Monte Rd • El Monte Rd @ Omas Rd • Willow Rd @ Omas Rd, per CHP.

Update 5:19  p.m. -- Animal evacuation:  Large animals can be evacuated to Dianne Jacob Equestrian Park, 11055 Moreno Ave, Lakeside. Small animals can be evacuated to Humane Society shelter at 5821 Sweetwater Rd, Bonita.

Update 4:34 p.m.- The fire is now 312 acres, per Cal Fire with zero percent containment.

June 17, 2025 (Lakeside) -- Evacuations have been ordered in the fast-moving #MonteFire in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley.  The fire began at 15900 El Monte Rd. near El Monte Park and the San Diego River. Cal Fire says the fire has potential for extended attack.

El Monte Rd. is closed at Yucca Rd.

A very large air tanker has been ordered, per scanner traffic.

A temporary evacuation point has been set up at the Walmart Supercenter, 13487 Camino Canada, El Cajon per Genasys. .

For a map and more information go to www.AlertSD.org

The fire has reached the ridgeline, per Watch Duty App.