CAL FIRE

EVACUATION ADVISORIES LIFTED IN GREAT FIRE NEAR JULIAN

 

October 3, 2011 (Julian) 1:25 p.m. – All evacuation advisories have been lifted in the Julian area, where the Great Fire is 40% contained. Road closures have also been lifted, however the Pacific Crest Trail in the fire affected areas remains closed, as well as Rodriguez Truck Trail.

 


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LIGHTNING IGNITES SEVERAL FIRES IN EAST COUNTY; WARNER SPRINGS FIRE NOW 150 ACRES

 

Update October 1:  The Chihuahua Fire in Warner Springs was 50% contained as of 9 a.m. October 1. Cal-Fire has estimated the total acreage downward to 40 acres (from 100 acres estimated yesterday).  The Border Fire is 100% contained.

 


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CAL FIRE ANNOUNCES PRESCRIBED BURN SET FOR SEPT. 22 NEAR BOULEVARD


September 21, 2011 (Boulevard) -- –Cal Fire resources will be conducting a small prescribed burn in the area of Mc Cain Conservation Camp north east of the Community of Boulevard. This burn is scheduled to take place in the early evening hours of September 22, 2011 between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.

 


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STATE FIRE BOARD REDUCES FIRE PARCEL FEE, EXTENDS CREDITS TO HOMEOWNERS ALREADY PAYING LOCAL FIRE FEES

By Miriam Raftery

August 23, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Rural homeowners will pay a fire parcel fee of $90 at most, and in many cases considerably less. Statewide, the total annual fire parcel fee will average just $30 under emergency regulations approved yesterday by the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection.

 


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SUPERVISORS ASK STATE TO RESTORE FIREFIGHTING CUTS AND REPEAL FIRE PARCEL FEE

August 20, 2011 (San Diego) –State Supervisors are firing back after the state slashed spending for firefighting services and enacted a fire parcel fee on rural residents.

 


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TARGET SHOOTING CAUSED 10 FIRES THIS YEAR; CAL FIRE ISSUES SAFETY GUIDELINES

August 15, 2011 (El Cajon)—Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire Authority has experienced a major increase of fires caused by recreational shooting across the County. To date, CAL FIRE/San Diego has had 10 fires caused by target shooting this year, up from only two the prior year.

 


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TWO BRUSH FIRES IN MEXICO

August 4, 2011 (San Diego's East County) ---Two fires are burning in Mexico, with smoke visible across portions of East County.  According to Cal-Fire Captain Mike Mohler, the blaze is approximately seven miles south of the border but poses no threat to the U.S. at this time.  One is south of Potrero/Tecate, the other south of the Otay area.

 

 

 


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SEE SMOKE? CAL FIRE BURNING BRUSH PILES

 

August 4, 2011 (San Diego's East County)--If you see smoke today over East County, don't panic. Cal Fire and the San Diego Fire Authority will be burning brush piles in the Corte Madera area.  These piles are a result of a fuels management program, said Cal Fire Captain Mike Mohler.


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FLASH FLOODS, MUDSLIDES POSSIBLE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY IN EAGLE FIRE AREA

 

July 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Cal Fire warns of a high risk of flash floods and debris flow in areas burned by the Eagle Fire tonight through Sunday. Rob Balfour, National Weather Service Incident Meteorologist assigned to the Eagle Fire, forecasts a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms over the burned area. An estimated 0.15 to 0.68 inches of rain could occur all at once, or in several episodes. Intense rainfall is most likely late Saturday afternoon/evening and again on Sunday.

 

Rainfall rates as low as 0.15 inches in a 20 minute period are capable of producing debris flows and flash floods in recently burned drainage basins, which include popular camping areas in Anza-Borrego.

 

Areas at risk of flooding or debris flows include:


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EAGLE FIRE 90% CONTAINED; SOME CAMPGROUNDS TO REOPEN TODAY

 

 Photos by Daren Sefcik

  

New:  View videos by Daren Sefcik

 

July 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) –Full containment is expected tomorrow on the Eagle Fire, which has now charred 14,100 acres. Cal Fire has determined that arson caused the fire, but has not disclosed details pending completion of an investigation.

 

 

 

The Borrego Palm Canyon Campground in Anza Borrego Des ert State Park and the Lost Valley Boy Scout Camp re-open today.


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FORMER PINE VALLEY CAL-FIRE CAPTAIN PLEADS GUILTY TO MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS

July 28, 2011 (Pine Valley) - Former Cal Fire Captain Scott Mackellar pled guilty on July 26 to fraudulent appropriation by a public officer of public funds. A Cal Fire internal investigation found that Mackellar misappropriated $7099.36 worth of purchases on fuel and credit cards belonging to Cal Fire while employed in the community of Pine Valley.


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TORCHED: ARSON CAUSED EAGLE FIRE, CAL FIRE REVEALS

 

By Miriam Raftery

 

July 27, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Cal Fire investigators have determined that arson is the cause of the Eagle Fire, which has thus far burned 14,100 acres and injured 14 firefighters.

 

Who set the blaze, and what was the motive? Cal-Fire has not disclosed details on how the fire was started, or if there are any suspects. If caught, the perpetrator could face not only jail time, but a hefty bill--since firefighting costs now exceed $11.6 million.


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BRUSH FIRE BURNING NEAR JACUMBA CHARS OUTBUILDING, POWER POLE

 Update 10 p.m. - The fire is now 80% contained, after burning 26 acres and destroying 2 outbuildings, Cal-Fire reports.

July 15, 2011 (Jacumba) – Cal-Fire is on the scene of a 3-acre brush fire off of Old Hwy 80 near the community of Jacumba. Named the Buffalo Fire, the blaze started at 3:22 p.m. and originated from a structure fire.

 

“Currently we have 8 Engines, 2 Fire Crews, 2 Water Tenders, 1 Bulldozer, 2 Airtankers, 2 Helicopters, and 2 Chief Officers, which is approximately 100 firefighters,” said Cal Fire spokesperson Roxanne Provaznik. “The fire is burning uphill to the south, and spreading slowly. There is one outbuilding and one power pole on fire.”


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RED FLAG/HOLIDAY PATROLS BY VOLUNTEERS IN PREVENTION

 

 
July 1, 2011 (San Diego County) --  This 4th of July CAL FIRE’S Volunteers In Prevention will be conducting Red Flag/Holiday Patrols throughout the County of San Diego serving as our “eyes and ears”.


Private Citizen Volunteers will be patrolling the backcountry, from 10 am to 4 pm, in marked private vehicles looking for fires or other dangers that may start a fire.

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BRUSH FIRE IN OTAY

Update 2:55 p.m.:  The fire is now 5-10 acres, burning at Otay Truck Trail.

 

June 29, 2011 (Otay Mesa) – A brush fire that originated in Mexico has burned three to five acres in Otay Mesa along Alta Road, Cal Fire reports. Currently one air tanker, one helicopter, one air attack plane, three engines and two handcrews are at the scene.


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FIREFIGHTERS HALT FIRE AT ROCK QUARRY DESPITE EXPLOSIONS, LACK OF WATER

May 15, 2011 (Spring Valley) – A fire at the McGrath rock quarry resulted in a multi-agency response hindered by explosions from combustibles and ammunition in storage on the site, which had no water access.

“Had this been three weeks later with the brush drying out, we would have also had a wildland fire,” said Battalion Chief Andrew Menshek with San Miguel Fire Department.


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EAST COUNTY RESIDENTS ARE BURNED UP OVER GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED CUTS IN FIREFIGHTING

 

By Jeremy Los

Editor Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

 


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FIRESIGHT WEB CAMS ADD ELECTRONIC MONITORING OF FIRES IN OUR REGION


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BRUSH FIRE CHARS 10 ACRES IN CAMPO

 

July 25, 2010 (Campo) – A brush fire reported at 3:22 p.m. in the 600 block of Forest Gate Road burned approximately 10 acres in Campo today. “No homes were threatened and there were no evacuations,” Cal Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler informed East County Magazine.


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SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIRE CONTAINED AT 30 ACRES

 

May 29, 2010 (Lakeside) 4:30 p.m. – A 30-acre fire centered at Slaughterhouse Canyon Road just north of Lakeside has been 100% contained at 30 acres. The fire was caused by pieces of a malfunctioning catalytic converter expelled from a vehicle, according to Cal Fire spokesperson Roxanne Provaznik.

 

‘Now is the time of year to keep your vehicles properly maintained, so that fires like this don’t happen,” say’s Fire Investigator Captain Preston Fouts. Also to help prevent fires now that it’s camping season, R.V. owners are asked to check safety chains on the tow hitch and make sure they are tight and not sagging onto the pavement, causing sparks.


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RAIN, SHOW HIT COUNTY, MORE FORECAST THROUGH THURSDAY

April 22, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – A surprise late-season storm didn’t stop firefighters county-wide from participating in a “Fill the Boot” campaign to collect donations for the Burn Institute—but did make for some chilly conditions.

“Firefighters at the Cal Fire Julian Station braved the freezing temperature for hours,” said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler.


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CONTROLLED BURN APRIL 14 AT WARNER SPRINGS

 

April 13, 2010 (Warner Springs)--CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire Authority will be conducting a burn project tomorrow, April 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.near the community of Warner Springs. Crews will be burning piles of brush which was removed from the Warner Springs Estates area. Smoke may be visible from Highway 79 and surrounding areas.


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BRUSH BURNING NEAR JULIAN FRIDAY

 

April 1, 2010 (Julian) – If you see smoke tomorrow, don’t panic. CAL FIRE/San Diego will be burning brush piles on the Sunrise fuel break just north of Julian. The project will last from 9am to 3pm tomorrow, April 2nd and smoke will be visible in the surrounding areas.
 


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INJURED HIKER RESCUED FROM CANYON IN BORREGO SPRINGS

 

 

March 26, 2010 (Borrego Springs) – A hiker who broke her leg on a trail in Palm Canyon, a remote location in Borrego Springs, was hoisted to safety yesterday by San Diego's Copter 10, following a call for assistance from the Borrego Springs Fire Department.

 


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CONTROLLED BURN ON PALOMAR MOUNTAIN TUESDAY

 

 

February 13, 2010 (Palomar) -- Cal Fire will continue a prescribed burn to reduce dead and dying vegetation on Palomar Mountain near the Palomar Observatory starting on Tuesday, February 16th.   Burning will be conducted by Cal Fire crews on week-days. Smoke may be visible from many miles away.


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FIRE DESTROYS RAMONA BUILDING

 

February 5, 2010 (Ramona)--Cal Fire and the Ramona Fire Department received a report of a structure fire in the 15000 block of Rosemont Lane in Ramona shortly after 7:30 this evening. When firefighters arrived, the 1500 square foot home was fully engulfed in flames.


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FIRE DESTROYS MOBILE HOME IN VALLEY CENTER

 

February 2, 2010 (Valley Center) Cal Fire responded to a structure fire in Valley Center today at approximately 3:21pm, finding a double wide mobile home fully engulfed in flames. The elderly resident told fire officials that when he returned home, he noticed the house was full of smoke when he opened the front door and a neighbor called 911 on his behalf.


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LUCKY DOGS: 2 PETS SAVED FROM FLOODED VEHICLE BY CAL-FIRE RESCUERS

 

December 21, 2010 (Valley Center) – A truck attempting to cross a flooded creek stalled and was swept sideways downstream in swift-flowing water at the same spot where an earlier rescue was made yesterday. At 3:37 p.m. today, Cal Fire and the Valley Center Fire Department responded and found two dogs trapped in the vehicle.


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FIREFIGHTERS RESCUE 2 TRAPPED IN STREAM

 

January 21, 2010 (Valley Center) – Two people have been rescued from a Toyota four runner that became stuck after the driver attempted to cross a stream and water began flowing inside the vehicle.

 


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IF YOU NEED SANDBAGS, EQUIPMENT OR OTHER HELP DURING STORMS…

 

 

January 17, 2010 - CAL FIRE and the San Diego County Fire Authority have filled thousands of sandbags and are gearing up for the expected stormy weather with heavy equipment and manpower on hand to help in the event of emergencies.


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