Smoke from Hawick fire
Smoke rising over East County as the Hawick Fire began. (Photo courtesy of Cal Fire San Diego via Alert California.)

A second East County brush fire broke out Thursday, less than 10 miles south of the Monte Fire, which crews have been battling for two days.

Cal Fire San Diego reported at 4:30 p.m. that air and ground resources had stopped the forward rate of spread on the Hawick Fire, after it had burned 51 acres. Five hours later the blaze was 50% contained.

Roughly 40 minutes earlier, though, alarmed officials had warned that flames were moving at “a dangerous rate of spread,” prompting evacuation orders. Those ordered were lifted at 5:30 p.m.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office had called for residents to leave the area surrounding the 14000 block of Hawick Drive. They were sent to the evacuation center at Walmart, 13487 Camino Canada in El Cajon.

Roads within the evacuation zone included Rios Canyon Road, Calle de Ernesto, Legacy Court, Olive, Pine and Pecan terraces, Kelli Lane, Ruis Road, Pine Peak and Valley View Truck Trail. Rios Elementary School is on the northeastern edge of the zone.

Warnings also were in place for communities south of Interstate 8 and to the east, roughly between Flinn Springs to the north and extending almost to La Cresta to the south.

The Hawick Fire had consumed about 5 acres around 3 p.m. when flames had been moving at “a moderate rate of spread.”

Firefighting aircraft were diverted to the scene from the Monte Fire, which has burned more than 1,000 acres in steep, rugged terrain near El Monte County Park in Lakeside.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Updated 9:50 p.m. June 19, 2025