A wildfire blackened about a dozen open acres in rugged, hilly terrain in the far southern reaches of San Diego County Wednesday, spreading close to a single back-country home but causing no reported structural damage or injuries.
The blaze erupted for unknown reasons about 1 p.m. near state Route 94 and Volmer Lane in Bell Valley, west of Campo and just north of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Cal Fire.
The flames burned within about 100 feet of the only house in the immediate area, but moved away from it up a steep slope and posed no immediate threat to the structure, said Frank Lococo, a fire captain with the state agency.
#BorderFire near Bell Valley [update] Fire spread has been stopped at 12 acres. Steep, rocky terrain remains a challenge, and firefighters will be committed through the afternoon mopping up and building containment line. pic.twitter.com/DJWMmOUifq
— CAL FIRE/SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) January 13, 2021
Ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and firefighting helicopters had the spread of the blaze halted by 2:30 p.m., the spokesman said.
The territory in the burn area is not easily accessed on foot, according to Lococo.
“It’s a pretty considerable hike, and it’s got some pretty considerable rock outcroppings on the slope,” he noted.
.@CALFIRESANDIEGO is at scene of a vegetation fire north of Highway 94 east of Volmer Lane in the Bell Valley area. 4 acres, moderate rate of spread. #BorderFire pic.twitter.com/QMrCBfC9CA
— CAL FIRE/SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) January 13, 2021
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
— City News Service