MediterraneanGrocery Wholesalers in San Diego, CA

The fire was reported around 6:25 p.m. on Thursday near Lyons Valley Road and Honey Springs Road.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Fire crews are battling three small brush fires that are burning in San Diego County near Lyons Valley on Thursday. Dubbed the Springs Fire, it is sending large plumes of smoke into the air that can be seen miles away.

As of 9:47 p.m., the fire was at 50 acres with 10% containment. According to CAL FIRE, fire activity has been reduced, and the wind activity has also decreased.

Fire crews will remain at the scene overnight, according to officials.

Although there are no immediate threats to structures, officials have issued evacuation orders and warnings. Residents affected by the fire are advised to evacuate to Edwards Cinema at 2951 Jamacha Rd, El Cajon. Click here to view the evacuation map.

The zones in orange and red (SDC-2107, SDC-2163 and SDC-2164) are under an evacuation order.

An Evacuation Order requires immediate movement out of the affected area due to an imminent threat to life.

The zones in yellow (SDC-2104, SDC-2105 and SDC-2232) are under an evacuation warning.

An evacuation warning means there is a potential threat to life and/or property.

As of 8:50 p.m., officials have also set traffic control points, making closures to the following roads:

Initially, the fire began as three separate fires. Fire crews were able to stop the forward rate of spread on one of the three fires, and the other two merged, according to CAL FIRE in a post on X.

At the time, the fire was burning in steep, rocky terrain with medium brushy fuels. Both ground and air resources were aggressively attacking the fire and prioritizing life safety, according to officials.

CalFire has built a list of things to have ready in case you and your family are evacuated during any wildfire or disaster.

Ensure your wildfire ‘Go Bag’ includes:

Always have sturdy shoes and a flashlight near your bed, ready for sudden night evacuations.

If time allows, consider adding:

When wildfires break out across San Diego County, emergency officials use technical terms like "containment" and "forward rate of spread" that can confuse residents trying to understand the threat level. CBS 8 visited CAL FIRE headquarters and spoke with Cal Fire Captain Robert Johnson to decode the terminology that could help residents better assess their safety during wildfire emergencies.

Contained:

Johnson said "contained" means the fire is surrounded by barriers — either fire lines built by crews or natural breaks like roads, lakes and ridges.

When officials report a fire is "25% contained," barriers surround a quarter of the fire's perimeter. But Johnson warns that doesn't mean the fire is 25% extinguished.

"If you have 25% containment, 50% containment, it doesn't mean that we're out of the woods yet. It doesn't mean we're safe. It doesn't mean the fire is completely extinguished, so there still are hot spots that tend to be burning within the perimeter," Johnson said.

The forward rate of spread has been stopped:

Containment percentages can remain static while a fire continues growing, depending on whether the "forward rate of spread has stopped."

"The fire activity has been reduced, and the fire is not actively growing in size. This does not mean the fire is contained or controlled. It just means that the predominant active side of the fire is not actively growing," Johnson explained.

Controlled:

A "controlled" fire means 100% containment with flames extinguished and fuel cleared, though crews continue monitoring for hot spots.

"Once those hot spots are extinguished and safe, then the incident commander may say the fire is now under control," Johnson said.

Out:

Finally, "out" means no hot spots or smoke remain.

"Once a fire has 100% containment lines around the perimeter of the fire and all the hot spots within the fire's perimeter have been extinguished and the fire is controlled, now the fire is considered to be out," Johnson said.

WATCH RELATED: How to know when it's time to go during a wildfire:

What factors contribute to high fire danger in Southern California?

Santa Ana Winds occur when air from the desert region blows westward toward the California coast. This results in dry air that flows est to west over the mountains and towards the valleys and coast of Southern California. Santa Ana winds typically feel warm because as the cool desert air moves down the side of the mountain, it is compressed, which causes the temperature of the air to rise. We tend to see relative humidity plummet and temperatures soar during offshore wind events like this.

These winds create high fire conditions not only for a fire to start but offshore, Santa Ana winds are the perfect fan needed to allow a fire to explode in size once it starts.

The water year restarts every year on October 1 and measures the rain totals for the season through the following September. When rain totals are below average, the vegetation that once was green turns brown and dry and can serve as fuel for wildfires. The saturated ground can help mitigate fire risk substantially, but the opposite tends to elevate our fire risk. The sooner and more frequently we see substantial rainfall, the lower our risk of a wildfire starting and spreading rapidly.

When a region is in critical fire danger, power companies tend to shut off power in pre-planned ways in order to prevent electrical equipment from sparking or starting fires. It is also because electric consumption tends to climb with warmer temperatures (usually thanks to A/C needs) and can lead to overall stress on the power grid. When you combine the risk of fire with planned power shut-offs, many school districts will close. Schools can also be used as monitoring sites for fire crews in the event of a fire starting.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KESQ) - Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers have allocated $14.5 million to California's Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program, which includes the Jewish Family Service of San Diego, it was announced today.

According to the JFSSD's Supporting Our Survivors program, the average age of participants is 89, with more than half living below the poverty line. More than 2,000 Holocaust survivors call California home, and many struggle with rising costs and challenges that come with aging.

"We thank the state of California for their continued partnership in supporting our work serving hundreds of Holocaust survivors in San Diego and Orange County,'' said JFSSD CEO Dana Toppel. "With this funding, communities across the state are able to honor the resiliency of survivors, by providing them services to live their remaining years with the dignity they deserve."

According to Jewish Family Service of San Diego, in San Diego and Orange counties, the number of recipients for these specific Serving Our Survivors services has increased by 160% over the last three years. JFSSD provided services to more than 450 Holocaust survivors in these counties as of June.

Funding for the Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program was set to expire at the end of July, after being funded by $36 million from the state in 2022. California has seven Jewish family service agencies. The program is administered by California's Department of Social Services.

JFSSD provides "compassionate, trauma-informed and culturally competent care'' to survivors within its jurisdiction, including specially trained staff at its Center for Jewish Care. JFSSD also provides translation services to survivors whose primary language is not English.

"As the last generation of Holocaust survivors enters their final years, we have a moral responsibility to ensure they can age with dignity and have the support they deserve,'' said Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California Executive Director David Bocarsly. "We are deeply grateful to Jewish Family Service for delivering this care every day, and to the governor, the legislature and the Jewish Caucus for stepping up to ensure this critical program continues."

"Even in a challenging budget year, California is showing that we will not turn our backs on the survivors who have already endured so much.''

EXCLUSIVE: Comedy Central is bringing the laughs to San Diego Comic-Con with an adult animation panel featuring South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

Parker and Stone, who will be at the convention for the first time in nearly a decade, are joining Beavis And Butt-Head‘s Mike Judge and Digman! creator Andy Samberg for a panel on Thursday, July 24 in Hall H.

Here’s the description for the panel, which is set for 6:45 p.m. PT:

“The home for adult animation, Comedy Central, celebrates their upcoming slate with the creators and cast of the hit series South Park, Beavis And Butt-Head and Digman!. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Mike Judge and Andy Samberg return to SDCC to share behind-the-scenes stories from over 30 years in animation.”

South Park fans will also get the chance to step inside the world of the titular Colorado town at an activation in downtown San Diego. The experience will feature interactive photo moments, giveaways, exclusive merch, cosplay contests, trivia, karaoke and more.

The cosplay contest categories include most original costume, most creative costume, best stage performance & presentation of costume, funniest costume, best couples costumes, and best Kenny, Kyle, Stan and Butters costumes.

The activation will run July 25 and 26 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. PT and will be located at Quartyard, 1301 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101.

Open to the public, reservations for the South Park experience go live July 14 at 10 a.m. PT via the show’s social media.

The programming at Comic-Con arrives just in time for new episodes of South Park on July 23, followed by the Season 2 premiere of Digman!

Take a peek at the winner, and learn where you can go to sample her latest and greatest meals in San Diego.

SAN DIEGO, CA — Over 15 million viewers watched a local San Diego chef impress hosts Martha Stewart and José Andrés all the way to the final competition of the new series "Yes, Chef!"

Emily Brubaker, the Resort Executive Chef at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, was awarded the grand prize of $250,000.

Her winning meal, a three-course dining experience, won over both Andrés, Stewart, who were joined by Marcus Samuelsson, Gail Simmons, and Andrew Zimmern for the final show that aired June 30.

In her first course, she served a scallop crudo with poached daikon and caviar, followed by her main dish: an American wagyu New York strip accompanied by a potato pavé in a tarragon demi-glace.

Chefs said that Brubaker "took a risk that paid off with her dessert" – a foie gras-topped bread pudding with a honey gastrique and candied hazelnuts.

"The pride of words from Martha and José—they’ll stick with me forever,” Brubaker told the San Diego Magazine in a recent interview. “Not only do I want to be a great chef, but I want to be a good person… What a great feeling.”

Brubaker's win has made every late night and moment of doubt worth it, she said after the victory.

“It validates that I’m in the right career. It isn’t just a win, but a deep personal affirmation of my passion and purpose, and a reminder that I did this not just for myself, but for my family who stood by me every step of the way," she said. "I'm more excited for what the future holds now that I'm a little less stubborn and more confident.”

To get to the show, someone had to be nominated, along with a hurdle or personality trait they needed to overcome, not just to improve in the kitchen, but at life, according to the show. For Brubaker, the classically French-trained chef with a focus on American, Italian, and French fine dining, was nominated for the show by her husband, NBC's media team of Rebecca Boswell and Abbey Maloney said of the winner. Her husband is also a professional chef at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club and a former executive chef of the Las Vegas Raiders, according to San Diego Magazine.

"(Jake nominated her) for her stubbornness, impatience and lack of self-assurance," they said. "Throughout the season, Brubaker displayed tremendous personal growth in her confidence and attitude in the kitchen. She demonstrated excellent leadership skills and poise while putting her heart on the plate. Her husband, Jake, was by her side during the final cook as her Sous Chef and was impressed by the improvement in her demeanor during the high-stakes challenge."

Brubaker has an impressive resume as a La Costa executive chef, having worked with multiple culinary legends and is passionate about sourcing quality ingredients to create exceptional, elevated dishes, they say. At the resort, she oversees eight restaurant outlets.

Omni La Costa supported her journey, sharing her progress on its Instagram page.

She will also be on hand on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Omni La Costa's "Yes, Chef!" table, celebrating an intimate 4-course dinner with expertly paired wines during the 60 Years of La Costa event (a nod independently organized by Omni La Costa Resort & Spa).

Be sure to get your tickets to the Omni La Costa Legacy Weekend: A Celebration of Taste and Time, all weekend from Friday at 8 p.m. to Sunday at 1 p.m. Events include a Throwback TV Night, Splashback Retro Pool Party, Casino La Costa, and Golf tournament, among others. Learn more about the retro-inspired experiences online at www.tickettailor.com.

A grunion is a small fish that emerges from the water by the thousands to dig in the sand and lay its eggs.

SAN DIEGO, CA —Don't miss the last few and best chances this year to see one of the most unique experiences Southern California has to offer.

The grunion, a small fish that rides ocean tides onto beaches to lay their eggs, are running Thursday night through the weekend, marking one of the best summer weekend runs of the season, according to the California Department of Fish And Wildlife.

The grunion, which are exclusive to Southern California, may be an ordinary-looking silver fish, measuring only six to eight inches in length. But what makes them so special is that they're the only fish that come out of the water to dig into beach sands and lay their eggs during mating season.

The small fish ride the tides around new and full moons, with the female grunion laying about 3,000 eggs at once and 18,000 in a mating season. The male grunion then rides the tide to the eggs and fertilizes them before catching a ride back into the ocean several minutes later through the tides. This event is known as a grunion run.

When the grunion run, the California coast looks like it's boiling with silverly fish flopping in the waves by the hundreds of thousands.

The grunion mating season starts in the spring and ends in the summer. These are good places to see them make their run for the last few times until mating season begins again next spring:

Grunions make their runs in two-hour intervals. These are 16 dates on which the grunions will make their runs between July and August:

"Typically, the second hour of an expected run is usually better than the first hour, so be patient," the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement Tuesday.

It's currently open season for the grunion, meaning people hoping to take some can as long as they are 16 and older with a valid fishing license. They can also only be taken by hand, no holes may be dug in the beach to trap them and they are limited to 30 per person, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"While grunion spawn on many beaches in southern California, CDFW does not recommend any particular beach because of changing safety conditions and local curfews," the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said. "If you don’t attend an official event, one of the best ways to find out which beaches have had recent runs is to call the state and county beach lifeguards, who can often tell if spawning has taken place."

For more tips to avoid missing out on the grunion, click here.