Crews on Friday stopped the forward spread of three vegetation fires that burned 50 acres and prompted evacuations in East County in Jamul.
By early evening, the containment area had grown to 60%, Cal Fire said.
That was hours after the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office downgraded the evacuation orders to warning status, clearing the way for displaced residents to return to their homes.
Authorities also identified a suspected cause – they found pieces of a failed catalytic converter at the scene. They concluded that the exhaust system of an automobile ignited the blazes.
The three fires, dubbed the Springs Fire, were reported around 6:20 p.m. Thursday, in the area of Lyons Valley Road and Honey Springs Road, according to Cal Fire.
The rate of spread of the smallest of the three fires was stopped, but the two additional fires merged. The fire was burning in steep, rocky terrain, with medium brush and annual grasses, fire officials said.
Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the state were flying fire suppression missions as conditions allowed.
Firefighters, Cal Fire said in a statement, took “advantage of favorable weather conditions to continue to build and strengthen containment lines and mop up hot spots.”
There were 147 personnel assigned to the fire, including 22 engines, six water tenders and six crews, officials said.
No injuries or structural damage was reported.
Updated 6:50 p.m. July 11, 2025
