News Flash

Help shape the future of Escondido’s parks and open spaces! The City invites residents to participate in one of two interactive Community Visioning Workshops focused on reimagining parks of all sizes throughout Escondido.

From large regional parks to neighborhood and pocket parks, we’re inviting residents to think creatively about how these spaces can better serve Escondido now and in the future.

Workshop Options:

• Option 1: Monday, March 9 at 6 p.m., at the East Valley Community Center (2245 E. Valley Pkwy.)
  • This workshop will offer free youth activities for participants.
• Option 2: Saturday, March 14 at 10 a.m., in the Mitchell Room at City Hall (201 N. Broadway)

Light refreshments and snacks will be offered at each meeting.

Can’t make it to a meeting? Share your vision for our parks and open spaces at: YourEscondido.com/Parks

The City of Escondido is enhancing recreational opportunities at Mountain View Park with the addition of eight new dedicated pickleball courts, expanding access for one of the community’s fastest-growing sports.

Currently, Mountain View Park features dual-lined courts that support both tennis and pickleball play, accommodating up to three tennis courts or twelve pickleball courts. All existing tennis and pickleball lines will remain in place, allowing continued flexibility and shared use for players.

The addition of eight new dedicated pickleball courts is consistent with the park’s original improvement plan and will bring the total number of pickleball courts at Mountain View Park to 20 once construction is complete.

These improvements are part of the City’s ongoing investment in park amenities and active recreation spaces to serve residents of all ages and abilities.

Have an idea for a future park improvement? Visit www.yourescondido.com to share your thoughts.

The Escondido Fire Safe Council (FSC), in partnership with the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation, has launched a new rebate program to help Escondido property owners make home-hardening improvements that enhance the resilience of their properties against natural disasters, specifically wildfires.

The program offers eligible property owners a rebate covering 50% of approved home‑hardening expenses, up to $425 per household, to install ember‑resistant vents, an essential home‑hardening upgrade proven to reduce structure loss during wildfires.  

The rebate is available exclusively to property owners living within the city limits of Escondido. Homeowners are required to submit a paid invoice for the completed work, and before-and-after pictures are encouraged.

Rebate Process:

• Wildfire Risk Mitigation Agreement: Homeowners must sign a Wildfire Risk Mitigation Agreement, which is available from any Escondido Fire Safe Council committee board member.
• Invoice Submission: Submit your paid invoice and description of the work to the Escondido Fire Safe Council at: info@escondidofsc.com
• Review Process: The FSC will review the invoice and work description to ensure they meet the Wildfire Prevention program requirements.
• Reimbursement: Upon verification, the program will reimburse the homeowner up to 50% of the total cost of eligible improvements (a maximum of $425 per house), subject to available funds.

Rebates will be distributed on a first‑come, first‑served basis until funds are exhausted or until the program’s closing date of March 1, 2026, whichever comes first. If you believe you’re eligible or are interested in the program, please fill out the rebate interest form, and someone from the Escondido Fire Safe Council will be in touch.

 For questions about the program and eligibility, please contact Denise Rolen by phone at 858-945-6199, or by email at: denise@escondidofsc.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact Battalion Chief Danny Revere (760) 573-9204

On September 27, 2025, at approximately 3:56 p.m., North Comm Fire Communication Center received a report of a fire in a home in the 600 block of S. Upas St. The first arriving engine Captain reported a single-story, single-family residence with smoke coming from the front of the home. 

Immediately after arrival, the first arriving engine Captain was told there was a victim in the residence.  Firefighters performed an aggressive interior fire attack and search.  Unfortunately, the victim was found deceased. Firefighters were able to contain the fire in approximately 15 minutes.  Crews were on scene for one hour performing salvage, overall, and ensuring that the fire was completely extinguished.

In all, four fire engines, one ladder truck, one rescue ambulance, and two Chief Officers responded to the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. There were no injuries to firefighters.

Fire Safety Message: All homes should have working smoke alarms. They are inexpensive, reliable, and proven to save lives! 

Escondido Fire Department Launches New Community Risk Reduction Division

Escondido, CA — The Escondido Fire Department is proud to announce the creation of a new Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Division, a forward-looking effort to reduce emergencies before they happen and strengthen community resilience.

The CRR Division will oversee both the Fire Prevention and Emergency Management programs, bringing them together under one umbrella to better serve the City of Escondido. The initiative reflects a growing need to address a broad range of risks beyond traditional fire prevention.

“Today’s public safety challenges are more complex than ever,” said Fire Chief John Tenger “Our community faces risks from structure fires, wildfires, hazardous materials, battery-related fires, and natural disasters. The CRR Division allows us to take a proactive, coordinated approach to prevention, education, and preparedness.”

The new division will focus on:

• Expanding fire and hazard prevention through inspections, safety programs, and code compliance.
• Community education and readiness efforts, including wildfire safety, home fire prevention, and disaster preparedness events and meetings.
• Building stronger partnerships with local schools, businesses, and community organizations to reduce risks citywide.
• Enhancing emergency preparedness for natural disasters and emerging hazards.

By combining prevention, public education, and emergency management, the CRR Division represents a major step toward making Escondido safer for residents, businesses, and visitors alike.

For more information about the Community Risk Reduction Division and its upcoming programs check out our website.

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The City of Escondido is currently working in collaboration with local communities, fire protection districts, and City staff to develop the 2025 City of Escondido Community Wildfire Protection Plan Update (CWPP). A CWPP is designed to assist the City and property owners in mitigating wildfire risk by assessing areas at risk and recommending measures to decrease those risks. You (the public) can play a part in crafting fire mitigation recommendations to reduce risk in your community. Read below to find out more about the collaborative Community Wildfire Protection Plan process and public involvement. 

What Does a Community Wildfire Protection Plan Do? 

• Identify areas at risk for wildland fire 
• Make recommendations for hazardous fuels treatments (vegetation thinning) 
• Prioritize areas for wildfire mitigation funding 
• Make recommendations for homeowners to reduce fire risk 
• Ask the public to share ideas about wildfire prevention and identify community values at risk 

The CWPP will guide future wildfire preparedness and risk reduction efforts, helping the City and property owners make informed decisions. 

The Goals and Objectives of the City of Escondido CWPP Are: 

1. Wildfire risk: Use a scientific analysis of the fire behavior potential of the study area (in addition to other attributes) to establish wildfire risk across the planning area from low to extreme. 
2. Identify values at risk: Use wildfire risk modeling to create recommendations which aim to mitigate undesirable fire effects to identified values at risk.   
3. Community risk assessment: Use community data, wildfire risk modeling, and Core Team expertise to rate the community’s risk and create recommendations. 
4. Develop recommendations: Provide the City of Escondido with a priority list of recommendations that covers relevant wildfire risk reduction strategies. 
5. Alignment with future/existing planning: Ensure proposed strategies align with existing city-wide management plans and resource management objectives. 
6. Community awareness: Promote community awareness, action, and resilience to enhance the self-efficacy of the community when it comes to wildfire risk.   
7. Strategic risk management: Provide strategic wildfire risk reduction suggestions that will, if implemented by the city and the Core Team, enhance life safety for all members of the community as well as first responders.   

Why You Should Be Involved 

A CWPP is designed to assist the City and landowners in mitigating wildfire risk. It is important that this process is collaborative. Public Input is Encouraged! 

How to Participate 

8. Review and Comment on the Draft Plan (PDF)

Submit Your Feedback – Use the online comment form by August 29, 2025 

• English:  https://forms.office.com/r/eaLz7kraJa
• Spanish: https://forms.office.com/r/wgbLPgZs5Q

Questions? Attend our Virtual Public Outreach Meeting!  

Virtual Public Outreach Meeting 

📅 Tuesday, September 9, 2025 🕕 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 📍 https://swca.zoom.us/j/93728499664?from=addon Meeting ID: 937 2849 9664 

Date: 2/6/26

Park hours: 6:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Open seven days a week)

Dock closes: 5:00 p.m.

Last Plant:  1,000lbs of Rainbow Trout the week of Feb. 1st- Feb.7th

Next Plant:  1,000 lbs. of Rainbow Trout the week of Feb.8th- Feb. 14th

Water temperature: At surface 62.60 f., 9.19 D.O. @ 15’ 57.02 f., 9.76 D.O.

Water level:  Low level, private watercraft are currently banned.

Permits and boat rentals are sold at the Ranger Station. We are credit/debit only, no cash transactions. We do not sell fishing licenses so anglers must obtain them elsewhere prior to their visit. The all-day motor boats are $25 for seniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays and for active military every Saturday.

In order to protect Wohlford from invasive exotic Quagga mussels there is a ban on private watercraft and equipment that could have been exposed to mussels. Restricted equipment includes; private boats, canoes, kayaks, float tubes, trolling motors, fish finders, anchors, and other equipment that contacts the water.

The late bite with the trout has been outshining the early bite. They prefer to give chase favoring jigs, and spoons to static offerings. Boat Dock Cove on the afternoon of the plant is dynamite, but everywhere else has been hit or miss.

     Crappie are being caught in small numbers near the Crappie Float in the early morning. They are most often caught using live golden shiners.   

      The bass are chasing swimbaits and dark colored plastics. They can be found lurking around structure.

     Catfish continue to be caught throughout the lake. Mackerel, shrimp, and chicken liver are all good choices for catfish.

Each month Whopper Contest winners in four categories are awarded a free fishing and boating permit. Contest winners must legally catch their fish at Lake Wohlford and have it weighed in by a Wohlford Ranger on our scale. For information on the contest or fishing conditions, please contact the Ranger Station at (760) 839-4346.

     To view our current fish photos, visit our website at:

http://www.wohlfordlake.com

WHOPPER CONTEST WINNERS FOR JANUARY WERE:

DARRYL SMITH      7.20# BASS           

KEVIN LEE  2.40# CRAPPIE

ALBERTO FERNANDEZ     16.50# CATFISH       

JORGE PEREZ  5.40# TROUT

WHOPPER CONTEST LEADERS FOR FEBRUARY ARE:

FAUSTO SANCHEZ    9.40# CATFISH          

KEVIN LEE   3.30# TROUT

TIEN VU   2.20# CRAPPIE     -     

JUSTIN KENNEDY   5.60# BASS

2/19/2026

Park Hours: 6:00AM to 6:30PM

Vehicles/persons in the park after hours subject to citation.

Updated Park hours are always visible on entrance sign.

Boats must return to dock by 5:30PM.

Last Plant: 1000lbs of Trout on Wednesday February 18^th         

Next Plant: 1000lbs of Trout on Wednesday February 25^th 

Water Temperature: At surface:   58.64°F

                                        At 15 feet:   58.46°F

Dissolved Oxygen: At surface: 9.77 mg/L

                                    At 15 feet: 9.73 mg/L

Water Level: moderate

Water Clarity: moderate 26’ 

Variable winds have been causing varying clarity.

All readings taken on February 12^th. 

Important Rules:

1. Daily fishing permits are required. They can be purchased from concession stand at Dixon Lake when fishing. Please have your permit with you at all times. All anglers are subject to Ranger permit checks while fishing. Pricing: Adults $10 (16 and older), Seniors $7 (over 60), Youth $7 (8-15)
   1. Second Rod purchase required for more than one fishing line in the water. Cost: $4
2. California State Fishing License is not valid nor required at Dixon Lake. 
3. No private watercraft of any kind are allowed. No swimming or wading is allowed as Dixon Lake is a drinking water source. 
4. Clean up your fishing line and save a life. Littering/failure to remove snagged and discarded fishing line is subject to citation. Littered fishing line results in a significant number of dead animals every year. 
5. Parking is free Monday-Friday. $5 on weekends and holidays. 

Trout (Limit 5 per person): Once caught, Trout cannot be returned to the water. These stocked fish often die when subject to catch and release. Trout season runs all the way to April with stocks every Wednesday! Generally, the Trout are more active a day or two after stockings, particularly during the morning and late afternoon. Catches so far have showcased beautiful, sizable lighting trout. 

Where to Catch: Pier 1 and the shoreline around the boat dock have been recent hotspots. Whisker Bay can be a good place to start the day of stockings. Trout Cove is also a good bet a day or two after stockings. 

Best Bait: Power bait, nightcrawlers, salmon eggs

Catfish (Limit 5 per person): The weather has brought out the catfish lately! Last weekend a whopping 59.7lb Catfish was caught. They prefer feeding on organic matter at the bottom of the lake. Catfish are nocturnal scavengers, so the best time for them is either early morning or around sunset, however good bait and patience can snag you a couple at any time of the day. Dixon Lake has produced some monster catfish, including a confirmed 69 pounder. 

Where to Catch: Out by the buoy line and Whisker Bay. 

Best Bait: Anything smelly such as mackerel or garlic shrimp. 

Largemouth Bass (Limit 2 per person, must be 12 inches minimum): It is important that bass meet the size requirement for take in order to maintain a self-sustaining population in the lake. We do NOT stock bass. Since the Trout stocks started, Bass have been more active. Largemouth Bass are ambush predators, meaning they like to hide in and around structures and heavily grown algae beds, waiting for a tasty snack to swim by before striking. 

Where to Catch: Recently, piers 3 and 4.

Best Bait: Roboworms, senkos, dropshots

Bluegill (Limit 25 per person): This small fish is a great target for newer anglers. 

Where to Catch: Jack Creek Area nearby aquatic vegetation (tules).

Best Bait: Powerbait, freshwater shrimp

Recent Catches

If you have a big catch reach out to us!

Catfish: 

• Jerry Douangsouphonh caught a 14lb Catfish via Powerbait on 1/18/2026 by the buoy line. 
• Kirk and Barbara caught 10 catfish between them using shrimp near the buoy line with the biggest being 7lbs on 10-18-2025. 
• Raul Pizarro caught a whopping 62lbs Catfish at Whiskey Bay on 2/8/24. 

 Bass: 

• Tom Bates caught a 15.25 inch 3 lb Bass on the left side of the buoy line on 8/13/2025. 
• David Contano 18 lbs 6/30/2020

 Trout: 

• Kali Brian caught a 5.33lb Rainbow Trout with pink power bait on May 13^th 2025.
• Hugo Garcia caught a 13lbs Trout at Pier 1 on 3/30/23. 
• Jason, Kayden, Caleb, and Shaun Casison all together managed to catch 14 trout in Trout Cove on 12/13/23, an impressive family achievement! 

Discounts

Dixon Lake staff encourages anglers who qualify to take advantage of "Senior/Military Wednesdays." Senior citizens 60+ years of age as well as any military personnel are eligible to rent an all-day motor boat for $25.

Contact Information

For more information on park rules, future stocking schedules, and other information, please call the Dixon Lake Ranger station at 760-839-4680 or visit https://www.escondido.gov/facilities/facility/details/Dixon-Lake-22. Dixon Lake can be found on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/dixonlakecitypark

How to Sign Up for Escondido Police Department Notifications on Nixle

Step 1: Text to Subscribe

• On your phone, text your ZIP code to 888777.
• You'll get a confirmation text back saying you're signed up for alerts in that area.

Step 2: Optional – Create a Nixle Account

• Go to www.nixle.com
• Click "Sign Up" (top right corner)
• Enter your email, phone number, and address (to get alerts that are relevant to your neighborhood)
• Choose which types of alerts you want: emergency, advisory, community, or traffic

That’s it! You’ll now receive text or email alerts from the Escondido Police Department about important updates like emergencies, road closures, missing persons, and more.