SAN DIEGO (KUSI) – The Southern Fire, which burned 5,366 acres in Shelter Valley east of Julian, was 90% contained today, authorities said.
The burn area was reported at 5,318 acres with 80% containment Tuesday evening, according to Cal Fire. Evacuation orders for Butterfield Ranch and the surrounding community were lifted Monday afternoon.
The brush fire was reported about 5:15 p.m. Saturday off the 14900 block of Great Southern Overland Stage Route. Within 90 minutes, it had spread to about 1,200 acres, leveled three structures and forced the evacuation of roughly 500 residents from Butterfield Ranch Campground to Agua Caliente Campground.
Overnight, the American Red Cross helped 32 evacuees with meals and emergency lodging in hotel rooms. By Sunday afternoon, that number had increased to 70.
San Diego County backcountry wildfire is 55% contained
May 4, 2021 GMT
JULIAN, Calif. (AP) A wind-driven wildfire in the eastern San Diego County backcountry was 55% contained Monday night after forcing evacuations during the weekend.
The fire erupted Saturday and grew to 8.1 square miles (20.9 square kilometers) on Sunday as gusty west winds swept the region.
Approximately 500 residents were evacuated from the Butterfield Ranch Campground, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
Three homes and two other structures were destroyed.
The San Diego Humane Society says first responders also rescued horses, goats, a donkey, rabbits and chickens.
A trough of low pressure that produced the winds was moving east, forecasters said.
SHELTER VALLEY (KUSI) – Containment increased to 55% today on the 5,184-acre Southern Fire in Shelter Valley east of Julian and evacuation orders were lifted.
Containment was reported at 25% Monday morning, the same figure as Sunday, Cal Fire Capt. Frank LoCoco said.
The brush fire was reported about 5:15 p.m. Saturday off the 14900 block of Great Southern Overland Stage Route. Within 90 minutes, it had spread to about 1,200 acres, leveled three structures and forced the evacuation of roughly 500 residents from Butterfield Ranch Campground to Agua Caliente Campground.
Overnight, the American Red Cross helped 32 evacuees with meals and emergency lodging in hotel rooms. By Sunday afternoon, that number had increased to 70.
San Diego County backcountry wildfire is 25% contained
May 3, 2021
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JULIAN, Calif. (AP) A wind-driven wildfire in the eastern San Diego County backcountry was 25% contained Monday after forcing evacuations during the weekend.
The fire erupted Saturday and grew to 8.1 square miles (20.9 square kilometers) on Sunday as gusty west winds swept the region.
Approximately 500 residents were evacuated from the Butterfield Ranch Campground, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
Three structures were reported destroyed.
The San Diego Humane Society says first responders also rescued horses, goats, a donkey, rabbits and chickens.
A trough of low pressure that produced the winds was moving east, forecasters said.
SHELTER VALLEY
A brush fire moved quickly on the western edge of the Anza Borrego desert Saturday, prompting evacuations for at least 500 residents of the Butterfield Ranch Campground near Shelter Valley.
The blaze being called the Southern fire was burning along the Great Southern Overland Stage Route, or county Route S-2, and was reported to be about 1,200 acres and growing, with a “critical rate of spread,” Cal Fire reported just after 6 p.m. At least three structures have reportedly been destroyed.
The fire was 5 percent contained as of 8:15 p.m., according to Cal Fire.
The Red Cross set up an evacuation site at Agua Caliente County Park.