Photo: San Diego Fire and Rescue

Update August 2, 2019 ,11 a.m.  The Caliente Fire is 60% contained at 490 acres. An arson investigation is underway; Fox 5 interviewed a witness who saw teen boys fleeing scene when the fire began.  NBC 7 reports two businesses burned, but no homes were lost.

Update August 1, 2019, 8 p.m.  The fire has burned 490 acres and is 50% contained. Around 70 structures were evacuated but none were lost. A pallet fire caused explosions, but no one was injured, Chula Vista Fire reports. Evacuation orders have been lifted and all roads are now open.

By Miriam Raftery

July 31, 2019 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon branch of the County Library has closed unexpectedly due to major maintenance and repair issues.

“Based on the best information I have, they anticipate re-opening the library on Friday,” Assistant City Manager Vince DiMaggio advised the Mayor and City Council in an e-mail.

The Library’s website confirms that reopening is expected Friday at 9:30 a.m.

By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2019 (Julian) – In a precedent-setting case over preservation of agricultural land protected under California’s Williamson Act, California’s Fourth District Court of Appeal has published a decision that reverses a Superior Court ruling in Cleveland National Forest Foundation et al. v. County of San Diego. 

The July 25th decision held that San Diego County officials acted wrongly when they approved a map for a housing subdivision  on the 1,400-acre Hoskings Ranch near Julian. The court found the Genesee Properties project would have set the stage to replace ranching with residential development--all while allowing the property owner to enjoy tax breaks intended to keep the land in agriculture.

By Mike Allen

Photo: Howard Choy, EES Consulting

July 26, 2019 (Santee) -- Santee’s City Council took a more in-depth look this week at establishing a new entity that promises to provide energy at reduced rates while obtaining more of the power from renewable sources.

By Miriam Raftery

July 27, 2019 (Proctor Valley) – Last week, San Diego County Supervisors approved the controversial Otay Ranch Village 14 master-planned community in Proctor Valley near Jamul, which passed by a 3-2 vote. 

Now environmental groups have filed lawsuits, hoping a judge will cast the deciding vote to block the project, based on fire danger to residents and threats to wildlife.  A press release issued by the plaintiffs, Center for Biological Diversity, Endangered Habitat League, Sierra Club, California Chaparral Institute, Preserve Wild Santee, and California Native Plant Society, calls the project “a sprawl development that will pave over hundreds of acres of habitat for golden eagles and other imperiled wildlife and build new homes in one of California’s most dangerously fire-prone areas.”

By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2019 (San Diego) – A Cal Fire firefighter on a training hike with his engine crew suffered a medical emergency this morning. He was airlifted by a San Diego County Sheriff’s helicopter and an air ambulance to Temecula Valley Hospital in critical condition, where he died despite the diligent efforts of medical staff. 

Governor Gavin Newsom order the flag at the state capitol flown at half mast.  “On behalf of all Californians, Jennifer and I extend our sincere condolences to CAL FIRE Firefighter Yaroslav Katkov’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time," the Governor states. "It’s the work of brave firefighters like Yaroslav that keep our communities safe, and we are deeply grateful for his service.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Chris Stone, Times of San Diego

July 28, 2019 (San Diego) – Four East County residents from La Mesa and Spring Valley are among the newly impaneled San Diego County Grand Jury. The East County jurors include a retired attorney, a caterer, an Army veteran/retired technical consultant, and an elementary school reading mentor.

Source:  Caltrans 

July 28, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) - Motorists are advised to watch for full connector closures along Interstate 8 (I-8) in the mountain areas of eastern San Diego County weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for pavement work, according to Caltrans. Full closures will take place at one intersection at a time in the coming week as follows:

Source: San Diego Sheriff’s Department

July 26, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Patrol bag? Check. Ballistic helmet and shield? Got it. First aid kit and rescue sled. Packed. Cuddly teddy bears? Absolutely! 

By Miriam Raftery

July 25, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – “Punish people in hotter communities for trying to survive the record heat – are you kidding me?” State Senator Brian Jones asks in a video he made after learning that the California Public Utilities Commission has refused a request from SDG&E to eliminate or suspend high use charges (HUC).  

By Miriam Raftery

July 25, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Four overdose deaths have occurred in the past 24 hours in Lakeside, Santee, Poway and Valley Center due to a counterfeit oxycodone drug known as M-30.  The illicit blue pills known as M-30s contain fentanyl, so potent that a speck the size of a salt grain can kill you – or even just touching it. Users may swallow the pills or crush and smoke them.

San Diego Sheriff’s Narcotics and Gang Division responded to the four overdose deaths. Detectives are now working with first responders to learn if they have received any similar overdose calls. 

Anyone with information regarding this illegal drug operation is urged to call the anonymous Crime Stoppers tip line at (888) 580-8477 or the Sheriff's Department at (858) 565-5200.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: National Weather Service storm images in Campo and El Cajon, plus lightning totals.

July 25, 2019 (San Diego’s East County)  - San Diego County had 145 lightning strikes during a 24-hour period ending at 6 p.m. last night. Thunderstorms doused East County’s mountain and rural areas, producing some dramatic downpours and striking images. 

Even the usually parched desert community of Borrego Springs logged .21 inches in just 10 minutes. Borrego resident Bob Kutscher described the deluge as “BIG loud windblown drops that I thought was hail but ended up being very loud rainfall.”

FORECAST FOR THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEK:

By Miriam Raftery

July 24, 2019 (El Cajon) – A motorcycle rider was struck and killed by pickup truck today in El Cajon.

July 24, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- The National Weather Service has issued a flash flooding and extreme thunderstorm warning for the southeast portions of San Diego County in effect now through 4 p.m.  Locations likely to experience flooding include  Alpine, I-8 Between Pine Valley And Boulevard, Lake Morena, Potrero, Campo, Pine Valley, Descanso, Tecate, Guatay and Barrett  Lake.

Photo, right: Rainstorm over Boulevard, taken by Donna Tisdale this afternoon

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS:

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, country roads, farmland, and other low lying  spots.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded roads. Find an alternate route.