Cal Fire truck
A Cal Fire truck on a rural highway. Courtesy Cal Fire

A wildfire erupted in the far southern reaches of San Diego County Tuesday amid extremely windy and dry conditions, for a time prompting evacuations of back-country homes.

The Border 79 Fire broke out for unknown reasons shortly before 10:30 a.m. south of state Route 94 near Little Tecate Peak – also known as Kuuchamaa – in the Barrett Junction area, a few miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Cal Fire.

Within a half-hour, the flames – which were moving “with a critical rate of spread” and posing a threat of becoming “a major fire” – had blackened roughly 24 open acres as crews fought them on the ground and aboard water-dropping helicopters. By 3 p.m. though, firefighters had the blaze 50% surrounded, Cal Fire said.

Due to the gusty Santa Ana conditions, it was not immediately clear if crews would be able to use air tankers to battle the blaze, Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said.

By 2 p.m., according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, an earlier evacuation order had been downgraded to a warning, with officials warning residents to prepare so they can easily evacuate if conditions change.

The warning was in effect for areas south of SR-94, just west of Barrett School Road, east of Little Tecate Road and just north of Little Tecate Peak, and areas to the west of that zone, according to Alert San Diego, a public-notification system run by the county Office of Emergency Services.

A temporary shelter for the displaced was operating at Regal Edwards Rancho San Diego, a multiplex at 2951 Jamacha Road.

By shortly before 1 p.m., crews had the burn area about 10% contained, according to Cal Fire. No structural damage or injuries had been reported as of early afternoon.

City News Service contributed to this report. This story was updated on Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 12:41 p.m.

Updated 2:05, 2:55 and 3:55 p.m. Dec. 10, 2024