A BRIEF HISTORY OF FIRES IN THE JAPATUL VALLEY

The Valley fire started Sept. 5 in the Japatul Valley.

Ja (pronouced ha) means water in the language of the Kumeyaay and Japatul translates to “water basket,” according to “California names and their literal meanings” by C.M. Drake, published in 1893. The valley is part of the Sweetwater watershed.

One of the earliest mentions of Japatul in The San Diego Union is an 1875 recounting of a Kumeyaay legend. The story ends with a fire.

The mostly rural East County region has a significant history of wildfires.

Fifty years ago, in September 1970, the devastating Laguna fire burned south from Mount Laguna to Boulder Oaks and around Morena Reservoir before turning west toward Dulzura. It scorched over 180,000 acres, including Lawson, Lyons and Lee valleys and the rural communities of Jamul, Harbison Canyon, Sunnyside, Crest and east El Cajon. Nearly 400 homes were destroyed and eight people died.

In July 1992 the Loveland fire, which was caused by an illegal campfire, destroyed three homes near the Loveland reservoir a few miles south of Alpine.

In January 2001 the Viejas fire, which was started by a cigarette tossed by a motorist into the median of Interstate 8, scorched more than 10,000 acres from the eastern edge of Alpine to Lawson Valley and damaged 13 homes burned roughly 2,000 acres.

In 2006 the Horse fire, which started July 23 in Horsethief Canyon, burned nearly 16,900 acres near Lyons Valley and led to the evacuation of residents in Carveacre and Lake Morena Village.

During the fall 2007 firestorm the Harris fire burned over 90,000 acres from Potrero to Otay Lakes. It destroyed 253 homes and killed eight people.

And in July 2018, the 500-acre West fire burned dozens of homes in nearby Alpine.

From The Daily Union, Saturday, January 23, 1875:

NO. V.

THE SWEETWATER RIVER This river is nine miles west of the Tia Juana. Its source is in the highest eastern spur of the Southern Cuyamacas peak, in some cold springs near an old Indian village called Japatai; from which a half hour’s journey, or less, leads over to the springs that help to feed the “Dry Lake” This spur juts up into a sharp pointed rocky peak -- a remarkable feature in the landscape -- overlooking Green valley on the south and Cuyamaca valley on the north. The little creek winds three miles through Green Valley; at its mouth, bends far around the base of the main peak, behind a lofty ridge and far away from the road, to make its appearance again, a clear, full stream, in July, in the little Guatay valley. Somewhere amid the dark forests of pine and oak that shade it, is the scene of a legend derived from an old Indian by the name of Chono. I omit some of his details:

“METO-PITL-PIT Was strong enough with one arm to pull down any one of the largest trees. He had numerous wives, always selecting them from among the youngest and best looking daughters of every family. He treated them too severely. It is told, he took a distaste for the good water so easy to get in the lower valley, out of a multitude of springs and the rivulets; and forced the women continually

to bring him water from the cold spring high up in the mountain of the southern peak. This tyranny became insupportable. His own family conspired against him. One day finding him sound asleep in the deep gorge beginning a mile below Green Valley, — they bound him fast and set fire to the house. In his struggles the neighboring hills resounded with his throes. In vain! Their arrangements were well made. He perished.”

This was in the time of the great grand-father of Chono’s great grandfather. “Signs of this event” he says, “may yet be seen.” Verily — “they were giants in those days,” in San Diego.

IN LITTLE GUATAY Valley, another stream from Big Guatay unites its waters. The perennial stream then passes Santa Gertrudes and Japatul, there receiving another accession. Near Sequan, it is augment by a creek from Valle de las Viejas; flows on through numerous fine little valleys, from half a mile or so in breadth, into the fertile rancho of Jamacha; and after, a course of sixty miles from the source, enters the Bay on the adjacent rancho “La Nacion,” six miles below the city of San Diego.

THE TRUE SOURCE Of the Sweetwater, is a mile and a half south of the “Dry Lake;” therefore very close to the main sources of the San Diego river. One of the heads of this last river is in Volcan Mountain, where the San Dieguito river rises. In fact, San Luis Rey river may be considered to rise on a northeastern spur of Volcan. The springs of all these rivers are not far apart.

RIVERS OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY