East County Magazine

Losses in Coches Fire show need for firewise upgrades to mobilehomes: County offers grants and loans to mobilehome owners
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photos and video by Josh Stotler View video Updated Sept. 10, 2025 with latest damage assessment based on a report from Lakeside’s Fire Marshal September 9,

CAL FIRE adds water truck to Shelter Valley station
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery September 9, 2025 (Shelter Valley) – The community of Shelter Valley, between Julian and Borrego Springs, is safer today thanks to a new 3,000-gallon water truck

STRUCTURE THREAT FROM COCHES FIRE IN LAKESIDE
Printer-friendly version 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

Evacuations in Spring Valley due to fast-moving fire
Printer-friendly version Update: Forward progress has been halted. The fire has been mapped at 75 acres and evacuation orders have been lifted, Watch Duty App reports. East County Wildfire &

Local agencies tout cooperative firefighting efforts, urge public to help by preparing for wildfires
Printer-friendly version 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

CAL FIRE joins partners in signing charter to reduce wildfire ignitions in Southern Calif.
Printer-friendly versionSource: CAL FIRE Sept. 3, 2025 (Riverside) — Earlier today, CAL FIRE Southern Region Chief Mike van Loben Sels signed the Southern California Ignition Reduction Program (SCIRP) charter

Firefighters rescue workers trapped on roof of burning T.J. Maxx building under construction in La Mesa
Printer-friendly version Story and photos by Josh Stotler August 25, 2025 (La Mesa) — Just before 3:30 p.m. , a structure fire broke out in the under-construction building slated

Does the San Diego region have adequate aerial firefighting capability for the coming fire season?
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery August 24, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — As we approach peak fire season, Cal Fire/County Fire has a press conference set for Tuesday to discuss

Photo of the week: Santee Fire Department’s new brush rig
Printer-friendly versionPhoto and story by Patrick Ward August 24, 2025 (Santee) – The Santee Fire Department this week held a push-in ceremony with its new home-type 3 brush engine,

Santee gets a new brush fire engine
Printer-friendly versionBy Mike Allen Photo: Members of Santee Fire Dept, SD Regional Fire Foundation and the SD River Conservancy with new brush rig funded through the city along with grants from
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VEGETATION FIRE ON HUMPHRIES ROAD IN TECATE, CA
Printer-friendly versionUpdate 5:30 p.m.: The fire is 23 acres and 50% contained per Cal-Fire. East County News Service July 2, 2024 (Tecate) — Cal-Fire is on the scene of a

VEGETATION FIRE ON HUMPHRIES ROAD IN TECATE, CA
Printer-friendly versionUpdate 5:30 p.m.: The fire is 23 acres and 50% contained per Cal-Fire. East County News Service July 2, 2024 (Tecate) — Cal-Fire is on the scene of a

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: EVACUATING FROM THE MCCAIN FIRE
Printer-friendly version July 1, 2024 (Jacumba)—Paul Cummings drove from Ribbonwood Road at I-8 east to Jacumba tonight, and sent these photos taken with his iphone. He says 8 West (which

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK: EVACUATING FROM THE MCCAIN FIRE
Printer-friendly version July 1, 2024 (Jacumba)—Paul Cummings drove from Ribbonwood Road at I-8 east to Jacumba tonight, and sent these photos taken with his iphone. He says 8 West (which
WILDFIRE IN LAKE MORENA
Printer-friendly version Update 8:55 p.m. – the fire is at 47 acres and 50% contained per Cleveland National Forest on X. Update 7 p.m. –Old Highway 80 has reopened. Update
WILDFIRE IN LAKE MORENA
Printer-friendly version Update 8:55 p.m. – the fire is at 47 acres and 50% contained per Cleveland National Forest on X. Update 7 p.m. –Old Highway 80 has reopened. Update

SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER SWAT STANDOFF IN POWAY
Printer-friendly version East County News Service File photo: SWAT team, courtesy of San Diego County Sheriff June 30, 2024 (Poway) –Travis Bradley Miller, 34,is in custody following a six-hour SWAT

SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER SWAT STANDOFF IN POWAY
Printer-friendly version East County News Service File photo: SWAT team, courtesy of San Diego County Sheriff June 30, 2024 (Poway) –Travis Bradley Miller, 34,is in custody following a six-hour SWAT

EXPERTS SHARE TIPS ON FIRE INSURANCE CHANGES, NEW “ZONE ZERO” REQUIREMENTS IN HIGH-FIRE RISK AREAS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photo: Cal-Fire/San Diego County Fire Authority Captain Thomas Shoots June 27, 2024 (Jamul) – Soaring and often inaccessible fire insurance rates, new defensible space

EXPERTS SHARE TIPS ON FIRE INSURANCE CHANGES, NEW “ZONE ZERO” REQUIREMENTS IN HIGH-FIRE RISK AREAS
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photo: Cal-Fire/San Diego County Fire Authority Captain Thomas Shoots June 27, 2024 (Jamul) – Soaring and often inaccessible fire insurance rates, new defensible space
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