SANTEE, CA — As East County San Diego enters the peak of wildfire season, Santee Junk Removal, a locally owned junk hauling company, is urging homeowners in Santee, El Cajon, La Mesa, Spring Valley, Lakeside, Lemon Grove, Rancho San Diego, and Grossmont to clear dry brush, dead vegetation, and accumulated yard debris around their properties. The company emphasizes that maintaining defensible space is one of the most effective steps property owners can take to protect their homes from wildfires.
Fire officials routinely advise homeowners in wildland-adjacent neighborhoods to remove dead branches, overgrown landscaping, old wood piles, and other combustible clutter from around structures. For many East County residents, yard waste often piles up in side yards or garages for months before fire season arrives. Hauling it out themselves typically involves renting a truck, making multiple trips to Sycamore Landfill, and losing an entire weekend to the task.
“Every year around this time we get calls from people who finally looked at the brush pile behind their fence and realized it's been sitting there since spring,” said John Souphalith, owner of Santee Junk Removal. “We can usually get a crew out same day, load it all up, and it's handled. It's a small thing that makes a real difference if a fire does come through the area.”
Santee Junk Removal offers several services tailored to wildfire season preparation. These include yard waste and brush removal, which involves clearing dead branches, dry vegetation, overgrown landscaping trimmings, and old wood piles from around the home; garage and storage cleanouts, which remove stacked boxes, old furniture, and general clutter that can act as fuel when stored against a house or fence line; and renovation debris removal for homeowners upgrading roofing, siding, or decking as part of fire-hardening their property.
The company's pricing is based on the volume items take up in the truck. Quotes are free and upfront with no hidden fees. Usable items are donated or recycled before anything is taken to Sycamore Landfill. The company is fully licensed and insured, with crews trained in safe handling of yard waste, storage clutter, and construction debris alike.
Residents throughout Santee and East County can request a free, no-obligation quote by calling (619) 792-1285 or by submitting a request through the company's website at santeejunkremoval.com.
This announcement comes at a critical time for the region, as late summer and fall are historically the most dangerous months for wildfires in San Diego's inland communities. The availability of same-day hauling services helps homeowners quickly reduce fire risks, which is vital for community safety. By encouraging residents to act now, Santee Junk Removal is helping to mitigate the potential devastation that wildfires can cause, not only to individual properties but to entire neighborhoods.
