October 4, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - It’s pretty inevitable living in California, even if your home is not in the path of a fire, you can still be affected by smoke particles released into the air from wildfires reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.

East County News Service

October 4, 2015 (Spring Valley ) – Two men in a white sedan attempted to kidnap a woman who was walking on the sidewalk near the 900 block of Gillespie Drive in Spring Valley on October 3^rd at 5:15 p.m. 

One suspect is described as a black man 20-25 years old with a shaved head, about 5 feet 8 inches tall and 150 pounds. The second suspect is a male of unknown race.  The vehicle, a white sedan, may possibly be a Chevrolet Impala and had black windows.

East County News Service

September 29, 2015 (San Diego)—San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) on Friday asked the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to allow the company to charge ratepayers for 90% of its remaining costs to settle the 2,500 lawsuits from the 2007 firestorms.  SDG&E faced $4 billion in claims arising from the fires, but settle most cases for $2.4 billion.

Most of that was covered by the company’s liability insurance or recoveries from third parties. SDG&E now wants its shareholders to pay just 10% ($42 million) with the remaining 90% to be passed on to ratepayers.  If approved, SDG&E proposes to spread out the remaining $379 million over six years, which it estimates would raise monthly bills less than $1.70 for a typical residential customer using 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month.

By contrast, a poll of East County Californian newspaper readers found that 100% believe  SDG&E and its shareholders, not ratepayers, should bear responsibility for the wildfire settlement costs.

By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –  The Valley and Butte fires rank among the most destructive fires in California history, with nearly a thousand homes destroyed and tens of thousands of people evacuated.  More than 70,000 acres in California have burned in total this year.

East County News Service

File photo: Flooded road in Pine Valley, by Alex Tardy, National Weather Service

September 20, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch, cautioning that heavy rainfall and flash flooding is possible from Monday afternoon through Tuesday in San Diego’s eastern mountains and deserts.

Rainfall could exceed two inches in mountains and could top an inch in the deserts.  Recent wildfire burned areas will be particularly susceptible to flash flooding and debris flows.

East County News Service

September 14, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Over 11,000 firefighters are battling 12 large fires across California.  The fires have destroyed hundreds of homes and threaten thousands more.  Several firefighters have been injured (but are recovering) and at least one life has been lost in the Valley Fire.  Robert Louis Stevenson state park is closed due to the fires, which also continue to threaten giant sequoias at Kings Canyon National Park.

County Fire Chief Tony Mecham and the CAL FIRE unit in San Diego assure that stations in San Diego County are open and fully staffed; all days off for CAL-FIRE firefighters have been cancelled.  He also urged local residents to be prepared in case fires occur here, warning of dangerous conditions.

By Miriam Raftery

September 12, 2015 (Amador and Calaveras County) – An explosive wildfire is threatening some of California’s most historic gold rush towns including Angel’s Camp (famed site of Mark Twain’s  “The Celebrated Tale of the Jumping Frog of Calaveras County) as well as San Andreas, Pine Grove and Mokelumne Hill.  The Butte Fire is currently threatening 6,400 homes and has already burned 85 houses and 51 outbuildings. 

Over 100 square miles – 65,000 acres have been scorched in Amador and Calaveras Counties by the blaze, which is currently 15% contained. For full details and complete evacuation information, visit the Cal Fire Incident page: http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1221

September 7, 2015 (San Diego's East County)--As remnants of Hurricane Linda hit our high desert and mountain regions, a Sig Alert has been issued for State Route 78.  The highway is closed down from S-2 to Borrego Springs due to mudslides. Flash flooding is also reported on State Route 78 at Yaqui Pass.

There is also heavy rain reported in the southeast portion of the county. Reader Milt Cyphert e-mailed this message: "In Jacumba we had a brief downpour. But, the major storm was Northwest of us. Machine-gun-like lightning strikes and the subsequent thunder claps and booms rattled windows and lungs here. I can only imagine what it must have been like up there where it was happening."

Sign up to receive free East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts via e-mail at the top right side of our homepage and also receive our free weekly newsletter.  We thank the Grossmont Healthcare District for their generous sponsorship of our alerts, helping to keep you safe and informed.

August 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The Corners Fire burning near Lake Morena is holding at five acres with no structure threat, Kendal Bortissier with Cal Fire told East County Magazine at 3:40 p.m. today.  Air and ground resources are fighting the fire.

Bortissier confirmed that a second fire is burning in Cleveland National Forest near Cameron station. USFS has not yet responded to our call requesting details.

East County News Service

August 23, 2015 (Borrego Springs)--A fire in Borrego Springs over the weekend serves as a remind that in extreme heat, it’s wise not to leave reflective materials around your home.

East County News Service

File photo by Nadin Abbott:  San Felipe wildfire, a prescribed burn  in San Diego's East County that got out of control in 2013.

August 21, 2015 (Anza-Borrego)—East County residents and a fire official have voiced concerns over a prescribed burn scheduled to be conducted by the California State Parks service today in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

“My opinion, not wise!” says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna at the Verdugo Fire Academy in Los Angeles. DiGiovanna also author’s the “Chief’s Corner” column on East County Magazine. He questions why a burn would be done in mid-summer amid drought conditions. “I don't have all the facts," he acknowledges, "however, fuel moisture content is the lowest ever. We have bone dry drought conditions. We have over 11,000 firefighters on the west fighting multiple major blazes. Aircraft, resources, personnel are stripped thin. We risk it? What if it gets away?”

August 17, 2015 (El Cajon) – The public is invited to an Emergency Resource Fair at Parkway Plaza mall in El Cajon on Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. organized by Senator Joel Anderson. You can learn about earthquake safety, fire safety and how to prepare for emergencies. Organizations participating include American Medical Response, Community Emergency Response Team, SDG&E, American Red Cross, Heartland Fire & Rescue, and FEMA.

By Devoreo Bell

Photo: NIFC.gov

August 13, 2015 (Ramona)--Last week, East County Magazine reported on the United States Forest Service’s announcement that it will not allow its new air tanker firefighting planes to land at the Ramona Air Base. The USFS says the runway is not long enough. However Cal Fire provided a video showing a Cal Fire pilot landing the same type of plane in Ramona.

Now, all  five of San Diego’s Congressional representatives (Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa, Scott Peters, Juan Vargas and Susan Davis) have signed a letter sent to Chief Thomas Tidwell of the USFS asking him to take action.

East County News Service

August 11, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to support state and federal bills creating penalties for flying hobby drones where they could interfere with aerial firefighting operations.