The National Weather Service on Wednesday extended the Red Flag fire weather warning through Friday morning, Strong Santa Ama wind gusts were expected across the country from near the coast to the inland areas, with the strongest gusts in the mountains.
The latest wildfires erupted Thursday. The largest broke out several miles north of the U.S.- Mexico border in the Otay Mountain wilderness area quickly blackening scores of open acres as ground and airborne crews worked to quell the flames amid arid and blustery Santa Ana conditions.
As of Thursday night at 10 pm, the fire had burned at least 600 acres. The fire spread over steep, rugged terrain as firefighters battled it on the ground and aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters.
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About the same time Thursday a two acre brush fire in La Jolla forced evacuations. The fire started just after 2 p.m. near Gilman Drive and Via Alicante. Several homes in the area were threatened by the flames. Gilman Drive will be closed for four to six more hours, and drivers were urged to avoid the area as cleanup continues.
On Wednesday in Rancho Bernardo, homes were threatened and there were mandatory evacuations – including an elementary school. One person suffered burns before crews took control of the flames.
The fire broke out shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Bernardo Center Drive and Camino Del Norte, west of Interstate 15. About 175 firefighters along with water-dropping helicopters were able to stop the spread of the flames.
On Tuesday, forward progress was stopped on a brush fire climbing a hillside along Friars Road near the Fashion Valley Mall west of the 163 freeway It prompted evacuation orders as it threatened a residential neighborhood. The fire, burned 15 to 20 acres near Friars Rd. and Avenida de las Tiendas, forced a closure of a portion of Friars Rd. and billowed smoke as it threatened structures.
Very early Tuesday morning, the Lilac Fire in Bonsall broke out, burning 85 acres, and reportedly damaging some buildings and evacuations were ordered, but by late Tuesday, the fire was being contained.
Also early Tuesday morning, the Pala Fire (off I-15 south and Stewart Canyon Rd.) broke out. But fire crews stopped the fire’s spread at 17 acres and there were no reports of damage.
On Monday, the Poway Fire Department responded to a fast moving and wind-driven brush fire that ignited near homes in the area of Ted Williams Parkway and Pomerado Road. The fire started around 1:17 p.m. in the vicinity of 14322 Pomerado Road. Air tankers and helicopters were joined in the fight against the fire which was kept to about three acres. Homes near the fire were threatened for a time but there were no confirmed reports of any structures destroyed.
The causes of all these fires were under investigation.
(Photo reporting partner 10News)