• Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Header image

Times of San DiegoLogo

Local News and Opinion for San Diego

Menu

Skip to content
  • All
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Arts
  • Military
  • Tech
  • Life
  • Opinion
Search Thousands of San Diego Jobs
  • Mistrial Declared in UCSD Student's Fatal Hit-and-Run
  • San Diego-Based Activist Group Joins Suit Against Trump's National Emergency Declaration
  • Horse Rescued from East County Ravine After Fall Off Trail
  • More Rainy, Snowy Weather Headed to San Diego Area
  • Man in Fatal Oceanside Crash During Possible Race ID'd

Home » Crime » This Article

Lilac Fire 50% Contained, Most Evacuations Lifted, But Santa Anas Return

Posted by Chris Jennewein on December 9, 2017 in Crime | 997 Views
| 0 Comments | Leave a Comment
Share This Article:
Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Firefighters continued to make progress Saturday against the Lilac Fire on their third day battling the blaze that has scorched more than 4,100 acres near Fallbrook, destroyed 182 structures and damaged 23 others.

Support Times of San Diego's growth
with a small monthly contribution

Become a supporter

Thousands of North County residents fled their homes after the blaze broke out for unknown reasons around 11:30 a.m. Thursday just west of Interstate 15 and north of Lilac Road in Pala Mesa amid gusty, arid weather.

About 110 people who remain evacuated from their homes due to the fire have been consolidated to two shelters: Palomar College in San Marcos and Bostonia Park and Recreation Center in El Cajon, according to San Diego County.

Large animals can be sheltered at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

At least 1,500 structures remain threatened, authorities said.

The number of acres affected by the fire has remained steady since Thursday night. Since then, firefighters have been working to increase the containment of the fire — reducing the number of hot spots that could reignite when fanned by Santa Ana winds forecast to return Saturday evening.

“There’s still tons and tons of hot spots out there,” Cal Fire Capt. Jon Heggie told KUSI on Saturday morning.

A San Miguel firefighter gets a well deserved rest after fighting the fire.
A San Miguel firefighter gets a well deserved rest after fighting the fire at Rancho Monserate Country Club. Photo by Chris Stone

Crews have largely transitioned their efforts from the air to the ground, he said. More than 800 firefighters and other personnel are working on the fire.

Strong winds are expected to continue into Sunday. A Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service is in effect until 8 p.m. Sunday. The strongest winds are expected in the San Diego County mountains and foothills, with gusts over 60 mph.

The winds, coupled with humidity levels below 15 percent, make for prime fire conditions.

“Winds will diminish steadily from Sunday afternoon through Sunday night, and the critical fire weather conditions will wane Sunday night,” the weather service said. “However, offshore flow will prevail through next week and continue very low humidity and occasional local gusty winds, though current indications are that we will have elevated versus critical fire weather conditions most of the week.”

People should avoid activities that could cause fires, authorities said. That includes keeping vehicles off dry grass, practicing safe towing, avoiding activities with open flames, properly discarding cigarettes and obeying burn bans.

State damage assessment teams have begun their inspections, and damaged and destroyed numbers are likely to change, authorities said.

There were at least six injuries reported Thursday, including a firefighter who dislocated a shoulder and one who was taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation.

Three non-firefighters suffered burn wounds of unknown severity while another person suffered a case of smoke inhalation.

Evacuation orders are in effect for the following areas:

  • West Lilac Road
  • Sullivan Middle School
  • South of Burma Road
  • East of Wilshire Road, north of North River Road
  • West of South Mission Avenue
  • South of Reche Road, west of Interstate 15
  • East of Green Canyon Road and South Mission Road, North of Highway 76

Evacuation warnings are in effect for the following areas:

  • North of Pala Road
  • South of Reche Road
  • West of Interstate 15 Freeway, east of Green Canyon Road and west Mission Road
  • West of Wilshire Road to North River Road
  • South of North River Road from Wilshire Road to Holly Lane
  • South of Holly Lane from North River Road to Mission Road
  • South of Little Gopher Canyon Road to Sagewood Road
  • South of Dentro De Lomas at Nors Ranch Road
  • Via Maria Elena South of Camino Del Rey

The county has issued boil water orders for some areas affected by power outages: the Boulevard Pines Movile Home and RV Park in Boulevard, Butterfield Ranch in Julian and Cameron Corners and Campo Group in Campo. The order will be lifted once tests confirm water in those areas is not contaminated by bacteria.

Legoland California re-opened Saturday after closing Friday due to the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

.

— City News Service

One mobile home stands while others on both sides and behind it burned at the Rancho Monserate Country Club.
One mobile home stands while others on both sides and behind it burned at the Rancho Monserate Country Club near Bonsall. Photo by Chris Stone
A mobile home for sale escaped the fire at the Rancho Monserate Country Club near Bonsall.
A mobile home for sale escaped the fire at the Rancho Monserate Country Club near Bonsall. The asking price for the home was $200,000. Photo by Chris Stone
A North County resident at the Oceanside High School Red Cross shelter checks to see if the mandatory evacuation had ended in his neighborhood.
A North County resident at the Oceanside High School Red Cross shelter checks to see if the mandatory evacuation had ended in his neighborhood. Photo by Chris Stone
Oceanside Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Bill Kogerman updates people.
Oceanside Fire Department Deputy Chief Bill Kogerman updates people at the Oceanside High School shelter about evacuation zones. Photo by Chris Stone
The Red Cross set up cots in the Oceanside High School gym for people displaced by the fire.
The Red Cross set up cots in the Oceanside High School gym for people displaced by the fire. Photo by Chris Stone
Strong Santa Ana winds pushed flames into Rancho Monserate Country Club retirement home.
Strong Santa Ana winds pushed flames into Rancho Monserate Country Club retirement home. Photo by Chris Stone
Lilac Fire damage
Cars and mobile home were destroyed at the Rancho Monserate Country Club off Interstate 15 at state Route 76. Photo by Chris Stone
A yard statue of a saint suffers damage during a fire.
A yard statue of a saint shows damage after fire at the Rancho Monserate Country Club near Interstate 15 and state Route 76. Photo by Chris Stone
A shoebox filled with bows and ribbons was spared at a mobile home
A shoebox filled with bows and ribbons was spared at a mobile home at the Rancho Monserate Country Club. Photo by Chris Stone
The Lilac fire swept through areas in Bonsall.
The Lilac Fire swept through areas in Bonsall. Photo by Chris Stone
The front grill of a car melted from the intense heat of the fire t
The front grill of a car melted from the intense heat of the fire that burned down numerous mobile homes at the Rancho Monserate Country Club. Photo by Chris Stone
An Amazon parrot waits at the Oceanside High School Red Cross shelter
An Amazon parrot waits at the Oceanside High School Red Cross shelter to be taken home. Photo by Chris Stone
A San Miguel firefighter gets a well deserved rest after fighting the fire.
A San Miguel firefighter gets a well deserved rest after fighting the fire at the Rancho Monserate Country Club near Bonsall. Photo by Chris Stone
Volunteers at the Del Mar Fairground bring in hay that was donated.
Volunteers at the Del Mar Fairground bring in donated hay. Photo by Chris Stone
Lilac Fire 50% Contained, Most Evacuations Lifted, But Santa Anas Return was last modified: December 10th, 2017 by Chris Jennewein

>> Subscribe to Times of San Diego’s free daily email newsletter! Click here

Follow Us:
Facebooktwittergoogle_plusrss
Posted in Crime | Tagged Cal Fire, Fallbrook, Lilac Fire, Marines, Oceanside, Pala Mesa, Santa Ana winds, Wildfires
Search Thousands of San Diego Jobs

Get Times of San Diego by Email

Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily.

 


Most Popular Today

  • Forbes Picks San Diego for '14 Top World Travel Destinations of 2019' Forbes Picks San Diego for ’14 Top World Travel Destinations of 2019′ 688 views
  • 16 Trapped on SeaWorld Gondola Ride; Strong Winds to Blame 16 Trapped on SeaWorld Gondola Ride; Strong Winds to Blame 612 views
  • Voice of San Diego Sues SDSU, Seeks Nitty Gritty on Stadium Site Plans Voice of San Diego Sues SDSU, Seeks Nitty Gritty on Stadium Site Plans 400 views
  • California Supreme Court Ruling Causes Chaos for Local Tax Measures California Supreme Court Ruling Causes Chaos for Local Tax Measures 292 views
  • Climate Change Could Cause Epic 'ARkStorm' in Southern California Climate Change Could Cause Epic ‘ARkStorm’ in Southern California 261 views

©®2019 Times of San Diego LLC

Menu

  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service