East County Magazine
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
Evacuations due to Roadrunner Fire in Boulevard
Printer-friendly version Update 3:20 p.m.– Evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted; forward spread has been stopped. Update 1:30 p.m.– The fire has been mapped at 88 acres and is
Search by Specific Date
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Our Emergency Alerts Are Powered By:
This vital service is made possible by community partners
committed to public safety.
Info During a Disaster
DURING AN EMERGENCY
San Diego County Emergency Updates
San Diego County Office of Emergency Services
Alert San Diego: local emergency help
Statewide Fire Updates
Cal Fire info on fires in California
Cal Fire map: incidents statewide
Nationwide Wildfire Updates
Inciweb: maps wildfires in U.S.
Watch Duty App: live updates on fires in U.S.
Emergency Alerts (sign up!)
Alert San Diego: County alerts
Watch Duty App (online)
Watch Duty App (phone app)
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
Evacuation maps
San Diego County emergency map
San Diego County Evacuation Planning
Emergency phone numbers
2-1-1 San Diego (24-hour disaster info)
Local police and sheriff contacts
County General Info: 858-694-3900
Report an emergency: Call 911
Traffic updates
CHP Traffic Incidents: Choose Border region top left
Utilities: Power Outages and Emergencies
Report a gas leak:
Call 911 or 1-800-611-7343
Weather
National Weather Service San Diego
Webcams
After A Disaster
Fire Safe Council: Post Disaster Recovery Red Cross:
Protect Your Community
Our Emergency Alerts Are Powered By:
Info During a Disaster
LIVE UPDATES
Editorial – SDG&E SHUT-DOWN THREAT FIRES UP BACKCOUNTRY OBJECTIONS
Printer-friendly versionBy Donna Tisdale La Mesa Fire Department In response to SDG&E’s announced plans to shut off-power to "remote areas" during high wind events: SDG&E and their urbanite supporters want
PENDLETON FIRE 100% CONTAINED
Printer-friendly versionOctober 9, 2008 (Camp Pendleton) 9:30 a.m. — A wildfire that began late yesterday afternoon at Camp Pendleton is now 100% contained, though firefighters continue to douse hotspots. “Between
“HISTORIC” AGREEMENT SIGNED: ALLOWS NIGHT-FLYING HELICOPTERS TO FIGHT WILDFIRES ON STATE LANDS IN EAST COUNTY
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarmon shakes hands with CAL-FIRE Chief Howard Windsor as Mayor Jerry Sanders looks on October 1, 2008 (El Cajon) — “This
PENDLETON FIRE CHARS 400 ACRES
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Capt. Nick Schuler, CAL-FIRE September 25, 2008 5:00 p.m. CAMP PENDLETON – More than 400 acres have burned at Camp Pendleton in a brush fire that
7 BANDS HOLD CONCERT TO HELP FIRE VICTIMS OCT 4
Printer-friendly versionROC For Fire Relief Concert and Fire Expo Helps Neighbors, Celebrates Heroes Saturday, October 4th, 2008 12:00pm to 10:00pm Lakeside Rodeo Grounds, Lakeside www.rocsd.net Listen to music from the
A Firestorm of Controversy – Still No County Fire Department Five Years After Cedar Blaze
Printer-friendly versionBallot measure will ask voters to approve tax for fire services By E.A. Barrera Photos courtesy of La Mesa Fire Department “Given the existing high-risk conditions that are projected
️ Official Evacuation Zones & Road Closures
Cal Fire Map
Watch Duty Map
Keep This Service Free
DURING AN EMERGENCY
San Diego County Emergency Updates
San Diego County Office of Emergency Services
Alert San Diego: local emergency help
Statewide Fire Updates
Cal Fire info on fires in California
Cal Fire map: incidents statewide
Nationwide Wildfire Updates
Inciweb: maps wildfires in U.S.
Watch Duty App: live updates on fires in U.S.
Emergency Alerts (sign up!)
Alert San Diego: County alerts
Watch Duty App (online)
Watch Duty App (phone app)
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
Evacuation maps
San Diego County emergency map
San Diego County Evacuation Planning
Emergency phone numbers
2-1-1 San Diego (24-hour disaster info)
Local police and sheriff contacts
County General Info: 858-694-3900
Report an emergency: Call 911
Traffic updates
CHP Traffic Incidents: Choose Border region top left
Utilities: Power Outages and Emergencies
Report a gas leak:
Call 911 or 1-800-611-7343
Weather
National Weather Service San Diego
Webcams
After A Disaster
Fire Safe Council: Post Disaster Recovery Red Cross:
Protect Your Community