A wildfire spread over hilly open terrain in the rural northeastern reaches of San Diego County Wednesday, blackening hundreds of acres and prompting residential evacuations.
The blaze broke out about 1 p.m. in the Sunshine Summit area, north of Oak Grove and east of Palomar Mountain, according to Cal Fire.
By Thursday morning, the flames had charred over 800 acres. It was 5% contained as ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters worked to halt the spread of the blaze.
The closest structures to the fire as of 5:15 p.m. were homes in Chihuahua Valley, about four miles from the burn zone, Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said.
As of late afternoon, sheriff’s deputies were directing some residents living closest to where the blaze was burning to clear out of their homes and advising others in neighborhoods farther away to prepare to evacuate on short notice if necessary, sheriff’s officials said. A temporary shelter for the displaced was in operation at Warner Springs High School.
As of shortly before 6:30 p.m.. no structural damage had been reported.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries while working to corral the blaze, according to Cornette.
The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, though there had been reports of lightning in the area shortly before it erupted, he said.
Updated at 7:40 a.m. Thursday, July 25, 2024
City News Service contributed to this article.
