By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

“Fire Won’t Wait - Plan Your Escape!”

October 1, 2022 (San Diego) -- This year marks the 100th anniversary of Fire Prevention Week. Fire Prevention Week is to bring heightened awareness to saving lives, preventing injuries, and protecting property. Start planning and sharing with family and friends now!

By Shiloh Ireland

September 25, 2022 (Lakeside) -- Yesterday, the Lakeside Fire Protection District held its annual Open House at Station 2. The event had not been held for several years due to COVID-19. It is always a large family event with kids and their parents.

This year featured the REACH helicopter, the jaws of life demonstration, San Diego Chapter of American Red Cross, San Diego Sheriff K-9, San Diego County Hazmat, San Diego County Fire Department, dunk a firefighter booth, Logistics support group to Lakeside Fire,  the rattlesnake removal specialist with many native snakes, and more displays.

By Shiloh Ireland

Miriam Raftery contributed to this report

September 16, 2022 (Lakeside) – After the Willows Fire burned out homeless camps along the San Diego Riverbed in Lakeside on August 31, I went back to speak with those who suffered losses. I found a couple, two men, who openly talked about their lives, how they got here, and shared some alarming thoughts on the fire.

They want housing and do not desire to live in the riverbed. But they said they have been unable to secure clean living arrangements as a couple and would “have to have children” to enter a shelter together.

By Chuck Westerheide, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 13, 2022 (Potrero/Dulzura) - County Emergency Services opened a Local Assistance Center Monday to support those affected by the Border 32 Fire.  The fire burned 4,400 acres and destroyed more than a dozen homes and buildings in the area between Dulzura and Potrero.

Retired paramedic loses RV home; family’s water well, solar panels and dreams up in smoke

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Henri Migala, Miriam Raftery, Ryan and Gemma Sommers

September 10, 2022 (Potrero) – Ryan and Gemma Sommers had a dream—to build an earth-berm home on 80 acres in Potrero that Ryan grew up on and inherited from his father. So when the Border 32 Fire swept through the community last week, Ryan didn’t hesitate – he headed into the wildfire and fought singlehandedly to save what he could. But the family had no insurance, and their losses are overwhelming.

“I have been trying to live out my father’s dream of living self-sustainability on a ranch,” says Ryan, who lost his father to pancreatic cancer in 2020. Now the fire has torched much of their property, including burning his uncle’s RV home to the ground.  “My uncle has lost everything,” Ryan reflects. Ryan and Gemma also suffered major losses, with Ryan risking his life to save what he could.

On a GoFundMe page set up to help the family repair and rebuild their lives, Gemma wrote, “We don’t want to say goodbye to our land that has been in our family these past 21+ years..”

September 9, 2022 (San Diego) -- The National Weather Service has issued flash flood watches, warnings and advisories for most of San Diego’s East County and inland areas this evening.  

See map on this page and click for details:  https://www.weather.gov/sgx/

 Life-threatening flash flooding of creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses are occurring or imminent.  

 Flash flood warnings are in effect for Julian, Banner Grade, Highways 78 and 79, Santa Ysabel, Warner Springs, Cuyamaca, and Mount Laguna.  

 A flood watch is in effect for Santee, La Mesa, El Cajon, Poway, San Marcos, and Escondido.

Strong support in public meetings and written testimony for requiring insurance companies to provide discounts to consumers under new Safer from Wildfires framework 

East County News Service

September 9, 2022 (Sacramento) -- California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has submitted his insurance pricing regulation to the California Office of Administrative Law. If approved, it that would recognize and reward wildfire safety and mitigation efforts made by many homeowners and businesses. The regulation is the first in the nation requiring insurance companies to provide discounts to consumers under the Safer from Wildfires framework created by the California Department of Insurance in partnership with state emergency preparedness agencies.

East County News Service

September 7, 2022 (Lakeside) –The Lakeside Fire Protection District invites you to an open house at Fire Station 2, located at 12216 Lakeside Avenue, on September 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be demonstrations, station tours, games, food, drinks and plenty of fire apparatus to check out.

East County News Service

September 6, 2022 (San Diego) – You’re invited to join SDG&E on Wednesday, September 7 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in a virtual workshop in wildfire safety and public safety power shutoff preparedness. Find out how you can make a difference.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo via Cal Fire on Twitter

Update September 6, 2022:  Cause of the fire was an improperly maintained vehicle, Cal Fire confirms.  The #CaesarFire is now 100% ontained at 50 acres; all evacuation orders have been lifted.

Update 7 p.m.:   The  Sheriff’s Department has lifted most evacuation orders and warnings, though residents in and around the fire perimeter are still under an evacuation order. A map of the remaining evacuation order is available at https://emergencymap.sandiegocounty.gov/index.html.

September 5, 2022 (Ramona) -- The #CaesarFire has charred 50 acres in a blaze that started north of Highway 78 at Ramona Trails Drive in the Witch Creek area east of Ramona, Cal Fire reports.  The fire sparked evacuations due to structure threats but forward spread has now been halted. 

A temporary evacuation point is set up at Olive Pierce Middle School, 1521 Hanson Lane, Ramona. An animal evacuation shelter is open at the Ramona Rodeo Grounds, 421 Aqua Lane in Ramona.

East County News Service

Photo by Josh Stotler: Hose near ruins of a burned home in Barrett Junction area.

September 2, 2022 (San Diego's East County) -- Everyone who was evacuated due to the Border 32 Fire can now return home, San Diego County officials confirm.  County officials have also established a recovery email, RecoverySanDiego@sdcounty.ca.gov, to help those affected by the fires. People whose property was affected by the fire can reach the County at the recovery email and County officials will respond.

By Miriam Raftery

September 1, 2022 (San Diego's East County) -- Firefighters have held the #Border32Fire to 4,438 acres today, only slightly more than last night, thanks to the courageous efforts of crews working in extreme fire conditions overnight. The fire is now 14% contained, thanks to milder fire activity today. Find links below to our coverage of the harrowing conditions faced by firefighters.

Tonight, starting at 6:30 p.m. residents in the following areas are being allowed to return home, the Sheriff has announced:

• West of Cochera Via Drive
• East of Potrero Valley Road

Residents returning to Potrero must enter from eastbound State Route 94.  Those returning to Dulzura must enter from westbound State Route 94.

The following road closures remain in effect until further notice:

Story and photos by Nadin Abbott

Photo:  battalion chief in charge of former inmates in training as firefighters

September 1, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- According to CAL FIRE Captain/Public Information officer Thomas Shoots, crews made a lot of progress overnight on the Border32 Fire. While it is still five percent contained, crews have been busy building a containment line. So they expect the containment to be bigger soon.  Crews-–including formerly incarcerated firefighters--held the fire to 4,438 acres as of 5:30 p.m., only about 200 acres more than last night.

Application period begins Sept. 6 for phase 1 of the Ag Pass program

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Horses at a Clydesdale farm near Boulevard during Shockey Fire in 2012

September 1, 2022 (San Diego) --  Tragic stories have emerged during past local wildfires of livestock that perished not from flames, but from lack of food, water, or medical care. Farmers may lose crops due to lack of irrigation. That’s led some farmers and ranchers to risk their lives and not evacuate, knowing that they would not be allowed back in to care for their animals or crops.

That’s about to change.  On Tuesday, County supervisors voted to approve issuing an agricultural pass (Ag  Pass) that will allow a farmer or rancher limited access to their land  in evacuated areas during emergencies in order to care for livestock or crops during emergencies, once emergency responders deem conditions safe.

The program comes too late for those evacuated from the #Border32Fire currently threatening Potrero, Tecate and Dulzura. Overnight, some residents posted frantic messages on social media seeking help for animals trapped inside the evacuation area, after volunteers with horses trailers were denied access. The new program would not help volunteers, but would allow commercial ranchers and farmers or their managers who undergo safety training to be allowed limited access in future emergencies.

 The plan was proposed by East County Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photos: Left, by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson, right via San Diego Fire Dept.

Update 7:30 p.m.:  New road closures:  Vine St. north of Mapleview St. to cul-de-sac,        Mapleview St. east from Channel Rd to SR-67, and Lakeside Ave. closed between SR-67 and Channel Rd.

August 31, 2022 (Lakeside) – The #WillowFire in Lakeside has scorched around 4.5 acres after starting in a riverbed near Mapleview Road and State Route 94. State Route 94 is closed in both directions due to heavy smoke.

Some residents nearby have received evacuation warnings for people to prepare to leave if an evacuation order is lifted. The Sheriff’s department advises vulnerable people such as those with disabilities, access or functional needs, or large animals to leave now.

A temporary evacuation point is at the Lakeside Christian Church, 13739 El Monte Road in Lakeside.