Fill the Boot Drive

On March 10, members of the Escondido Firefighters Association along with Chief Officers and uniformed support staff collected donations at the intersections at Broadway & Hwy 78 and at Via Rancho Parkway & I-15 in support of the annual San Diego Burn Institute "Fill the Boot" fund drive. The Escondido Fire Fighters Association has participated in the "Fill the Boot" fund drive for the Burn Institute for many years and Escondido residents have always been very generous! This year, Escondido firefighters' boots overflowed with more than $10,100!

The Burn Institute's 22^nd Annual Firefighter Boot Drive is the organization's largest one-day fundraiser and all of the funds raised through the Boot Drive will stay locally here in San Diego County. Proceeds benefit the Burn Institute's fire and burn prevention education programs and burn survivor support services such as Camp Beyond the Scars for burn-injured children. This unique camp program has provided a safe place for hundreds of young burn survivors to share their experiences in a supportive and nurturing camp environment. In fact, several children in Escondido attended the camp last year.

The Burn Institute provides other valuable programs to the community such as:

 Youth Firesetter Intervention Program which uses evidence-based risk assessment tools and education to intervene in dangerous fire setting behavior and stop it at the source. This program is available in English and Spanish and is free of charge to residents in San Diego County. Each year, 1 to 2 children in Escondido are referred to this effective program.

 Fire Safe Kids education program for elementary school age children that is delivered at schools in partnership with local Fire Prevention  officers. Thousands of children have been impacted by this program in Escondido.

 Fire Safe Senior program that provides free smoke alarms to homeowners 62 and over. Nearly 100 smoke alarms have been installed in senior citizen's homes in Escondido over the past three years through this program.

Donations can be made anytime by visitingburninstitute.org/donate.

Free Food Distribution

Free nutritious food is available for Escondido families through Feeding San Diego and Neighborhood Healthcare twice per month. The food distribution takes place on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 1 - 3 p.m. There will be produce, dried goods and frozen food available.

 

Location: 425 N. Date Street, Escondido 92025

The Escondido Discussion

As part of this year's budget process and to further engage Escondido residents CityWide, the City has launched The Escondido Discussion to hear local community priorities and City service needs.

 

The City is continuing to recover from the long-term effects of COVID and potentially faces an $8 million budget gap this year, we want to hear from YOU what local priorities you have and the City services you rely on as we strive to continue to provide the level of service residents expect and deserve.

 

Some of the priorities your neighbors identified include:

• Addressing homelessness
• Attracting businesses and jobs to the City
• Improving public safety and police services
• Maintaining and repairing local streets, roads and sidewalks
• Keeping public areas clean and free of graffiti

 

Now we want to hear from YOU! Please take a moment to join The Escondido Discussion.

 

BY THE NUMBERS

Business License:

 

Code Compliance:

Total Code Cases (Year to Date)

259

 

 

Public Works:

 

Graffiti Restitution:

 

 

POLICE DEPARTMENT UPDATES:

 

Deceased Male

On March 7, a deceased male was reported along the freeway. It appeared that the male had been deceased for a few weeks and there did not appear to be any signs of foul play or drugs in the area.

 

Double Drug Overdose

On March 10, a 12-year-old girl called Escondido Police Dispatch to report that her mother and her male friend were unconscious and would not wake up. Police and fire units arrived and several doses of Narcan were given to both subjects who were breathing but still unconscious. Drug paraphernalia items were located in the room. Both the male and female were transported to Palomar Medical Center (PMC) for further treatment and the girl was transported to a relative's house. After being released from PMC following the overdose, the woman retrieved her 12-year-old, as well as her 5-year-old, and went back to the Escondido Lodge. Child Welfare Services attempted to contact the woman to try and get a drug test done on the 12-year-old since she was present during the overdose. The woman refused entry and was arrested for felony child endangerment as a result of the overdose from the night before.

 

Did You Know?

Any person who, under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of that child to be injured, or willfully causes or permits that child to be placed in a situation where his or her person or health is endangered, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or in the state prison for two, four, or six years.

 

Community Resources:

 Anonymous Tip Line: 760-743-8477 (TIPS)

 Crime Data/Mapping: https://www.crimemapping.com/

 Helicopter Announcement Transcription:

 Call 858-866-4356 or text "Hello" to 858-866-4356

 Megan's Law Information: https://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/

 Mental Health & Crisis Intervention:

 Access and Crisis Line: 888-724-7240

 It's Up to Us Campaign: www.Up2sd.org

 Get Connected. Get Help: Dial 211

 National Drug Helpline: https://drughelpline.org/contact/ or call 844-289-0879

 Non-Emergency Line: 760-839-4722

 

Happy Retirement and Congratulations, Captain Justin Murphy!

In May of 1998, Justin Murphy joined the Escondido Police Department. He worked a variety of assignments from Patrol, to SWAT, was a Field Training Officer, and worked in the Traffic and Investigations Divisions. After 24 years of service with the EPD, Justin Murphy has decided to retire from his career in law enforcement. He will greatly be missed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February Abandoned Vehicle Data

 

 

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT UPDATES:

On March 6, the Escondido Police and Fire Communication Center received a report of a water leak located at Sonoma Court apartments at 508 E. Mission Avenue. Upon arrival, Firefighters found that a water heater supply line in an upstairs apartment unit had been leaking for an extended amount of time. The water flooded the upstairs apartment, two downstairs apartments, and the Manager's office. Firefighters ensured the electricity and water were secured, and provided salvage efforts to the involved apartments. Large tarps were used to protect belongings and funnel the water out of the apartments. Despite removing most of the water from the ceilings, walls, and floors, each apartment was uninhabitable for the three families involved. The Escondido Firefighter's Association Local #3842 provided $200 gift cards to each of the three families to assist them with immediate needs.

 

On March 7, the Escondido Police and Fire Communication Center received multiple 911 calls reporting a building on fire at 223 Fernwood Ave. Both Escondido Fire and Police units were dispatched to the location. The first arriving Fire unit reported a working fire in a single-story duplex. Firefighters quickly confirmed all occupants were out of both residences. The fire was contained in approximately 20 minutes. Damage was isolated to the rear of the structures. Four Engine Companies, one Truck Company, one Rescue Ambulance, and two Battalion Chiefs were required to extinguish the fire. The Escondido Police Department assisted in evacuations and traffic control. SDG&E also aided securing both gas and electric utilities. The American Red Cross provided lodging to five adults displaced from their homes due to fire damage. No civilians or Firefighters were injured during the incident. The fire's cause and origin are under investigation.

On March 12, the Escondido Police and Fire Communication Center received a report of a possible vegetation fire in the area of Northbound I-15 near the 9th Ave. off ramp. A vegetation response was dispatched, and the first arriving officer reported an active fire on the right shoulder of the freeway involving both brush as well as spreading to several palm trees on La Terraza Blvd. Due to the potential threat, a second alarm was requested. The fire was contained within 45 minutes. In all, 7 Engines, 1 Patrol Unit, 2 Chief Officers and a Fire Investigator responded. The response included assistance from Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department, San Diego City Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, and Escondido Police Department. There were no injuries to civilians, however, one firefighter suffered a minor burn to his neck from falling embers. Although the fire originated from a homeless encampment, the cause is under investigation.

 

On March 12, the Escondido Police and Fire Communication Center received a report of a possible fire in the 2000 block of Garden Valley Glen (Meadowbrook). The first arriving Captain reported a two story, duplex style residence with light smoke coming from the front door and nearby windows. The home was equipped with a residential fire sprinkler system which kept the fire contained to a small area of the kitchen. Crews were on scene for an additional hour performing salvage, overall and removal of water from the sprinkler system discharge. The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries to firefighters or civilians during the incident.

 

 

 

 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & ENGINEERING

 

Permits and Inspections:

 

Building Division:

1. The counter staff conducted in-person meetings with 117 applicants, processed 102 applications, and issued 82 permits.

2. The total permit valuation for the week was $2,482,804.00

3. Building inspectors completed 238 inspections.

 

Field Engineering Division:

1. Field Engineering processed 33 permits.

2. Field Engineering inspectors completed 199 inspections.

3. Field Engineering currently has 191 active permits.

 

Development and Capital Projects Update:

Curious what's happening with development projects around the City? The link below directs to an interactive dashboard of projects currently in various stages of the development process. Browse project descriptions, see locations on the map, browse photos and more.

 

City of Escondido Development Project Dashboard

 

 

A short overview video of the Dashboard features can be watched here.

 

To learn about previous applications for residential and commercial development permits, please visit the Development Project Information Archive page or contact the Planning Division.