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 Karen Pearlman

Photo by Miriam Raftery:  An outreach volunteer speaks with a homeless woman in Lemon Grove near State Route 94

September 6, 2025 (Lemon Grove)  — Lemon Grove has released its new strategic Homeless Action Plan 2025, a comprehensive document helping the city address the growing issue of housing instability.  The City Council has previously allocated $250,000 to combat homelessness in the city, and the council and staff are now looking at several actionable goals to help make a dent in helping those experiencing homelessness.

The city has also started its first phase of using the $8.4 million State of California Encampment Resolution Funding Grant it received in March to address homelessness, eyeing rapid rehousing of individuals living in encampments along the state Route 94 corridor.

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.

East County News Service

September 4, 2025 (Ramona) -- An hours-long standoff that led to the evacuation of a Ramona elementary school yesterday has ended with the discovery of a deceased man inside a home. 

On September 3, just before 9:30 a.m., deputies from the Ramona Sheriff's Substation responded to a call for a welfare check of a despondent man at a home in the 1400 block of Royal Vista Drive.  When deputies arrived on scene, they contacted the man through an open window. He did not respond; instead, the man retreated behind a closed door Deputies heard what sounded like the racking of a weapon, so they quickly retreated to a safe location and called for backup. 

By Paul Levikow

September 3, 2025 – (East County) The governors of California, Oregon and Washington today announced they will launch a West Coast Health Alliance aimed at recommendations about immunizations, in response to recent cuts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

California Governor Gavin Newsom, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson issued a joint statement saying the alliance is “in response to recent federal actions that have undermined the independence of the CDC and raised concerns about the politicization of science.” The governors say they are beginning the process to provide evidence-based unified recommendations to their residents regarding who should receive immunizations and to help ensure the public has access and credible information for confidence in vaccine safety and efficacy. 

This action prompted other top CDC officials to resign in protest, while Kennedy hires a replacement who has no medical background. 

By G. A. McNeeley 

September 3, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- The Trump Administration is facing bipartisan pushback over the firing of Susan Monarez, the Director of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which prompted dozens of staff members to walk out in protest on Thursday, August 28, according to The Guardian. 

Hundreds of employees and supporters lined the sidewalks outside of the agency’s Atlanta headquarters for a “clap out” rally to honor the senior leaders who resigned in protest of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s anti-vaccine attacks on the agency and public health at large, according to MSNBC. 

East County News Service

Update Sept. 5, 2025 -- The deceased has been identified as Steven Curren. He was facing charges of vehicle theft and posession of stolen property.

August 31, 2025 (San Diego)—A 35-year-old man arrested Aug. 29 was found unresponsive in his cell yesterday afternoon at San Diego Central Jail and later died at a hospital.  He was the seventh person to die in custody this year in a San Diego County detention facility.

According to the Sheriff’s department, several incarcerated persons in the jail notified deputies at 3:08 p.m. that the victim was in medical distress. Deputies found the man unresponsive in his cell and called 9-1-1. They requested additional help from the facility’s medical staff and began life-saving measures.

Paramedics and the San Diego Fire Department assumed lifesaving measures upon their arrival and the man was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at about 4:31 p.m.

The man had been in Sheriff's custody since August 29 and was facing charges for vehicle theft and possession of stolen property.

Like the other six in-custody deaths this year, the deceased was awaiting trial and had not been convicted when he died.

Story and photo by Karen Pearlman

The group is also trying to cover the cost of hay that was compromised during a storm in late August.

By Paul Levikow

Photo, left:  Sheriff Kelly Martinez cuts ribbon on renovated Lemon Grove substation

August 28, 2025 (Lemon Grove) – San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez and Lemon Grove Mayor Alysson Snow presided over a ribbon cutting and grand reopening of the Lemon Grove Sheriff’s Substation Thursday, 19 months after it was devastated by torrential rain.

On Jan. 22, 2024, the San Diego area recorded 2.73 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. Martinez’s team assessed the damage around the county in Sheriff’s jurisdiction to ensure that deputies could continue to provide the services that were needed and respond to flood victims, conduct evacuations and other emergency responses.

“By far, the worst damage was here in Lemon Grove. And I’m so grateful for the tenacity and resilience of my team,” Martinez said. “There was a lot going on to get this station back reopened. This really epitomizes who the Sheriff’s Office is. We serve our community and we do it very well.”

Suspensions are temporary and in some cases, indefinite

By G. A. McNeeley 

August 29, 2025 (Washington D.C.) -- Australia, Japan, Mexico, and Taiwan have joined a growing list ofcountries that are suspending certain parcel shipments to the United States, following the implementation of new rules under President Donald Trump’s Administration that will end tariff exemptions, according to CNN. Dozens of countries suspended postal services to the United States, to take time to adjust to the new rules and account for increased expenses. 

The “de minimis” exemption, that previously allowed shipments of goods worth $800 or less to enter the U.S. duty free, was eliminated on Friday, August 29. 

Starting today, packages will be subject to fees relating to the tariff rates applying to their country of origin, making postage more expensive. Postal services will either have to cover the increased cost or pass it on to customers, according to The Guardian. 

 By Mike Allen

Image, left:  Aerial rendering of planned new warehouse site

August 29, 2025 (Santee) -- Santee traded a defunct drive-in theater/swap meet for an industrial distribution center with 42 dock bays and the promise of 185 jobs following approvals from the City Council this week.

The fact that the 13.5 acre site at 10990 North Woodside Avenue has been vacant for more than a year made no difference to the dozens of people who showed up to City Hall to oppose the massive warehouse, which developers said will be a “state of the art facility with all the bells and whistles.”