A fast-moving brush fire that scorched nearly 50 acres and forced residential evacuations in a rural area near Pala Mesa Resort is fully contained, authorities said Saturday.
At 5:15 p.m., Cal Fire reported the success in battling the Garden Fire. Crews were expected to keep watch over the area to stop any flare ups.
The blaze erupted for unknown reasons at about 12:45 p.m. Friday off the 3800 block of Lake Garden Drive, just west of Interstate 15, according to Cal Fire.
As of 2:30 p.m. Friday, flames had spread over an estimated 48 acres and were moving through areas near homes, according to Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette.
Sheriff’s deputies cleared people out of residences near the burn zone while firefighters battled the blaze on the ground and aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters.
Residents subject to a mandatory evacuation order Friday afternoon were in neighborhoods east of Gird Road, north of State Route 76, south of Laketree Drive, Pala Mesa Drive and Wilt Road and west of Old Highway 395.
The evacuation order, along with all warnings, was lifted around 9 p.m. Friday, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
A blaze that broke out later Friday to the east in Warner Springs, the Resort2Fire, was 75% contained early Saturday. The cause is under investigation.
– City News Service
Updated 6:50 p.m. Nov. 9, 2024
