By Miriam Raftery

Photo: World Trade Center burning on September 11, 2001; screenshot from video taken by San Diego County resident Mar Tomic

September 11, 2021 (San Diego) – Twenty years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks claimed thousands of lives in New York, Washington D.C. and  Pennsylvania,  San Diego County residents shared their memories of the tragedy in response to inquiries from East County Magazine and on social media.

Sheriff Bill Gore posted on Twitter, “The images are seared into our memories. We watched in disbelief as passenger planes turned into weapons. It was a time of great pain and heroism. Honor guard members reflect on 9/11 and how it transformed their purpose into a life of service. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLuKaoVAH1M “  Many of those in the honor guard spoke of how the attacks inspired them to protect their country."

Others reacted differently. Local resident Mar Tomic was in New York City to witness first hand the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil.  “I had a chance to see it on TV but also from my apartment in Brooklyn. I took my camera and wandered the streets for many days after the tragedy. I edited this video 7 days after 9.11.”  View video:  https://vimeo.com/29079284.   Tomic’s video captured not only the chaos and sorrow in the days following the attacks, but at a time when the nation was gearing up for war to retaliate against Afghanistan for harboring Al Qaeda leader bin Laden, Tomic’s footage also showed some New Yorker’s rallying for peace  even amid candlelight vigils for those lost.

Source:  San Diego County Sheriff Press Release

June 23, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - It's a scenario that plays out hundreds of times a day across San Diego County.  People are calling 911 and hanging up.  It's most likely an accident, but it's taking time away from those who really need help.





 

December 25, 2012 (Spring Valley)--A woman working on her computer looked out her window to see smoke pouring out a window of her neighbor’s home across the street yesterday afternoon. She sought help of another neighbor and tried to alert the couple inside unit 206 at the Sweetwater Lodge Mobile Home Park, 10707 Jamacha Road, but there was no response. The neighbors opened a front door and were slammed by a huge wall of hot smoke. They called 911 and within minutes after the 12:18 pm call, firefighters from San Miguel Fire District were on scene.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

Thanksgiving Cooking Safety Tips!

November 20, 2012 (San Diego)--Thanksgiving signifies the beginning of the Holiday Season and many of us will be spending more time in the kitchen preparing for the Holidays according Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna. Thanksgiving Day is the leading day for home cooking fires, with three times as many occurring on Thanksgiving as any other day of the year. In 2010, there were 1,370 fires on Thanksgiving, a 219 percent increase over the daily average. “Thanksgiving is a fun, festive holiday, but it’s also very hectic says DiGiovanna. “All the entertaining and distractions make it easy to forget about what’s cooking on the stovetop.”

SDSU News Service

September 13, 2012 (San Diego)--Hundreds of students, faculty and staff gathered in front of Hepner Hall to take part in San Diego State University’’s Patriot Day ceremony, honoring the victims and heroes from 9/11.

 
February 2, 2012 (El Cajon)—The driver of a KSON radio station vehicle smelled smoke while sitting in traffic yesterday in downtown El Cajon. Looking behind his seat, he saw flames, quickly exited the vehicle and called 911 shortly before 2 p.m. yesterday. 

 By Paula Dickenson, San Diego Sheriff’s office

Photos and Story by Mary E. Paulet

September 11, 2010 (Escondido) - In a scene reminiscent of classic Americana movies Grease and American Graffiti, 1957 Chevrolets and 1902 fire engines thundered up and down the streets of Escondido last night.