Features, Food & More
Latest articles
WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN OFFERS FREE HAVEN FOR BORDER FIRE EVACUEES AND PETS
East County News Service
January 25, 2025 (Rancho San Diego, CA) -- In light of the ongoing evacuations at the Border Fire, the Water Conservation Garden on the campus of Cuyamaca College is opening its grounds with free admission to evacuees and their pets. Free Wifi is available.
“We hope The Garden can provide a peaceful escape, a place to recharge, and a reminder of the resilience of nature and community,” says Lauren Magnuson, Director of Garden Operations. She adds, ”Stay safe, and we look forward to welcoming you.”
EVACUATION AREAS EXPAND IN BORDER FIRE; EVACUATION CENTER AT CUYAMACA COLLEGE
Update January 25, 2025- The fire had modest growth overnight and is now 6,500 acres, per Cal Fire.
Update 8:15 p.m.-- Per CalTrans, State Route 94 is closed in both directions between Honey Springs Rd. in Jamul and State Route 188 (access road to Tecate) due to the fire.
Update 5:55 p.m.-- The fire is now 6,272.7 acres per Cal-Fire. The mandatory evacuation area has been extended to some areas east of State Route 94.
January 24, 2025 (Jamul/Dulzura) -- Evacuation orders and warnings for the #Border2Fire now extend to immediately south of Jamul Casino, including areas east and west of State Route 94, and significant portions of Chula Vista. Photo left is as of 1 p.m.; click this link for latest evacuation areas and hit the plus sign to enlarge to view details: https://app.watchduty.org/camera/2231 Also see another map here: https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2025/1/23/border-2-fire.
The fire, which started on Otay Mountain yesterday, is now 5,389 acres and 10% contained per Cal Fire. An Evacuation Center has now been set up at: Cuyamaca College 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92019.
EVACUATIONS ORDERED AS BORDER 2 FIRE BURNS THOUSANDS OF ACRES
Update 12 p.m.: Cal Fire has mapped the fire at 5,389 acres. It remains 10% contained. View laetst evacuation areas, whcih have expanded, here: https://app.watchduty.org/i/41110
By Miriam Raftery
January 24, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The #Border2Fire has exploded overnight to 4,250 acres with 10% containment, Cal Fire reports this morning. Per San Diego County Sheriff, #Border2Fire. An evacuation order has been issued for people who live in the red shaded areas as shown on the map at left as of early this morning. It means there is an immediate threat and you need to leave right now. An evacuation warning has also been issued for the areas in yellow.
Areas under evacuation notices include Dulzura, portions of Jamul, Lower Otay Reservoir, Otay Mt. Truck Trail, Campo Rd., the Elite Training Center and more. Otay Ranch Town Center and Olympian High School are under evacuation advisories.
Evacuation Points: Red Cross volunteers are supporting two temporary evacuation points:
- Edwards Theater, 2951 Jamacha Rd., El Cajon
- Southwestern College, 900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista
Note: Evacuations orders and warnings may be updated frequently; for the most recent maps please see:
SDG&E RESTORES POWER TO ALL CUSTOMERS AFTER HISTORIC WEATHER EXTREMES
Source: SDG&E
January 25, 2025 (SDG&E) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced this evening that power has been fully restored to all customers affected by recent Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Over 19,000 customers were impacted in dozens of local communities. These shutoffs were implemented as a wildfire prevention measure in response to unprecedented weather conditions that led to prolonged high-fire risk.
BORDER 2 FIRE VISIBLE ACROSS COUNTY, STILL WITH NO CONTAINMENT
Update 8:46 p.m.-- The fire is now 600 acres, per Watch Duty App. No structures are currently threatened.
By Miriam Raftery
Photo, left, by Jeff Caton, taken from the intersection of Fletcher Parkway and Cuyamaca St. in El Cajon this evening.
Photo, right: Border 2 Fire viewed from HP Wren Otay Mountain West camera
January 23, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The Border 2 Fire burning on Otay Mountain has swelled to 566 acres as of 7 p.m. tonight. The flames are visible as far north as Escondido and Ramona. There is zero containment as yet.
The fire which began early this afternoon was burning at a “dangerous” rate of spread, Watch Duty App reported, however this evening Cal Fire indicates it is growing at a moderate rate as winds have lessened.
No evacuation notices have been sent out by the County, though campers at Pio Pico and Thousand Trials have posted on social media that they were advised to evacuate or prepare to evacuate.
Wildfires
NWS FORECAST: FIRE DANGER, FROST AND FOG
By Miriam Raftery
January 19, 2025 (San Diego) – January’s freakish weather continues with both fire danger and frost forecast for this week. The weather hazards line up for a potentially “worse case” scenario, the National Weather Service predicts.
A red flag warning has been issued for San Diego County’s inland mountains and valleys Monday and Tuesday due to low humidity and strong winds forecast.
Cold mornings will also bring frost in sheltered inland valleys west of the mountains.
Widespread wind gusts over 35 miles per hour are expected, with a high potential for gusts up to 60 miles per hour in the mountain areas Monday and Tuesday.
- Read more about NWS FORECAST: FIRE DANGER, FROST AND FOG
- Log in or register to post comments
POWER RESTORED TO ALL SDG&E CUSTOMERS, THOUGH MORE OUTAGES ARE POSSIBLE
Source: SDG&E
January 12, 2025 (San Diego) –On Friday, San Diego Gas & Electric reported that it had restored power to all customers affected by Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). Despite the restorations, unprecedented and prolonged dry conditions continue. SDG&E encourages customers to remain prepared with the potential for future shutoffs in the coming days.
SDG&E began de-energizing customers earlier this week in response to elevated wildfire weather conditions and the driest start to the rainy season in San Diego County in the past 174 years. This proactive measure was taken to reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety. Following patrols and inspections of power lines on foot and by air, SDG&E crews restored power for all customers who were impacted by PSPS as of Friday evening.
13 DEAD, 12,000 STRUCTURES BURNED IN L.A. WILDFIRES; CREWS FROM SAN DIEGO, MEXICO AND CANADA AMONG THOSE BATTLING BLAZES
By Miriam Raftery
Photos by Lakeside Fire Department, which has sent firefighters to battle the Palisades wildfire
January 11, 2025 (Los Angeles) – After days of massive destruction and widespread evacuations, firefighters are finally making progress on four remaining wildfires in the Los Angeles area. At least 13 people have died in the fires, which have destroyed an estimated12,000 structures, the Los Angeles Times reports.
At least 90 firefighters from San Diego County have been dispatched to help fight the L.A. fires, including Lakeside Fire Department, which posted photos on social media of the Palisades Fire that their firefighters have been battling since Wednesday. Hundreds of thousands remain evacuated, as firefighters slowly make progress toward controlling fires fueled initially by hurricane-force winds.
Here are the latest updates from Cal Fire and L.A.-based news outlets:
HUNDREDS OF HOMES LOST AS FIRES CONTINUE TO BURN OUT OF CONTROL IN LOS ANGELES
By Miriam Raftery
Photo by Henri Migala: Palisades Fire in Los Angeles
January 9, 2025 (Los Angeles) – Over 179,000 people are under evacuation orders as massive fires continue to burn across Los Angeles County, with no containment as yet on the worst conflagrations. Fire officials’ estimates of homes lost range from several hundred to over 1,000, and at least five people have died.
The Palisades Fire has scorched over 1,700 acres, burning all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Videos posted online show massive destruction of homes along Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. Most of Pacific Palisades has been destroyed, with evacuations as far away as Santa Monica. It remains 0% contained. Low water pressure left some hydrants without water and high winds have restricted firefighting aircraft, leaving the blaze to burn out of control in its crucial early hours, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The Eaton Fire has charred over 10,000 acres in Pasadena and Altadena. It is 0% contained; this is the fire in which five people are confirmed dead, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The Sunset Fire in Hollywood Hills also forced evacuations. It has burned 42.8 acres and is 0% contained, per the Watch Duty App.
SDG& BEGINS AND EXTENDS POWER SHUTOFFS AS EXTREME FIRE DANGER CONTINUES
Resources available for impacted customers at community resource centers
January 8, 2025 (San Diego) – This week marks the driest start to the rainy season in San Diego County in 174 years. As a result of these dry conditions and Santa Ana winds, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) continues to implement Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) in an effort to reduce wildfire risk and protect public safety.
As of tonight, 8,946 customers have power shut off. Another 69,155 are at risk of power shutoffs.The effort aims to prevent hellacious firestorms such as those currently ravaging L.A., as wind gusts up to 85 miles per hour are forecast to reach San Diego County soon.
Because of the extended wind forecast, customers may experience prolonged or more than one PSPS. An up-to-date list of impacted communities can be found at sdge.com/ready.
Available Resources for Impacted Customers
SDG&E is opening of Community Resource Centers in affected communities. These Centers are equipped with resources such as Wi-Fi and phone and medical device charging, and they will remain open for customers in need until conditions improve. A list of active Community Resource Center locations and their hours of operation can be found at sdge.com/ready.