Lilac Fire 90 Percent Contained In San Diego County

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – Firefighters gained control over a wildfire in San Diego's North County that scorched thousands of acres and forced thousands of people out of their homes, allowing Cal Fire to lift all evacuation orders for residents over the weekend.

As of Monday evening, the Lilac Fire was 90 percent contained and holding at 4,100 acres, according to Cal Fire. The fire had reportedly destroyed 182 buildings and damaged 23 others, but after closer inspection, Cal Fire reported 157 structures were destroyed and 64 others were damaged.

UPDATE: Lilac Fire: Crews Inch Closer To Full Containment Of Lilac Fire

No other structures were threatened by Sunday evening, fire officials said.

At least six injuries were reported, including one firefighter who suffered a dislocated shoulder but reset his arm and continued to work. Another firefighter was hospitalized for smoke inhalation. Three citizens suffered burn injuries, while another was treated for smoke inhalation.

The wind-driven wildfire sparked at 11:15 a.m. Thursday along the State Route 76 and Interstate 15 interchange, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes in Bonsall, Fallbrook, Oceanside and Vista.

By Sunday evening, 140 engines, 29 water tenders, 11 helicopters, 17 dozers, 33 hand crews and a total of 1,659 firefighters were fighting the Lilac Fire. As of Monday evening, 97 engines, 12 water tenders, six helicopters, 10 dozers, 31 hand crews and a total of 1,399 firefighters were assigned to the fire.

All evacuation orders and road closures were lifted Sunday, but the Rancho Monserate Country Club and the area between 5200 Olive Hill Road and 5800 Olive Hill Road remained closed to everyone except residents with identification.

The Red Cross announced that the shelter at the Bostonia Park & Recreation Center in El Cajon would close at 5 p.m. Monday. The shelter at Palomar College remained open for people displaced by the Lilac Fire. The Del Mar Fairgrounds also remained open for livestock and other large animals.

Several school districts closed Friday remained closed Monday, while many other school districts and charter schools reopened, according to the San Diego County Office of Education. See a full list of closures below.

MiraCosta College District was open Monday. Palomar College in San Marcos was also open for normally scheduled classes and activities, though the school's Dome remained open as a Red Cross evacuation center, school officials said.

San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency facilities in Fallbrook and Oceanside that were closed Friday reopened Monday.

As a precaution, the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health issued boil water advisories for parts of the region because public water systems lost pressure in their water distribution systems during the power outages.

An advisory was issued Monday for Mountain Empire RV Park in Campo and Oak Knoll Village in Pauma Valley. Advisories were previously issued for Cameron Corners and Campo Group in Campo, Boulevard Pines Mobile Home & RV Park in Boulevard, and Butterfield Ranch and Vallecito County Park in Julian.

The advisories will be in place until laboratory results show the water is free from bacterial contamination, county officials said.

The county opened a local assistance center Monday to help navigate wildfire victims through the rebuilding and recovery process. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Vista branch library, located at 700 Eucalyptus Ave. in Vista.

According to the county, services available at the recovery center will include case management, crisis counseling and referral services, assistance with tax relief information and records replacement, short-term housing referrals, CalFresh/SNAP resources and information, and a mobile medical clinic. Additionally, information on residential rebuilding and permitting and consumer fraud will be available.

Residents who live in the unincorporated part of San Diego County should call the Recovery Assistance Hotline at 858-495-5200 or email countyfirerecovery@sdcounty.ca.gov. Both will be staffed by county employees from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Residents in incorporated cities looking for recovery assistance should contact their city.

The county also launched a recovery website available at www.sdcountyrecovery.com.

School Closures

These schools and school districts will remain closed Monday:

• Bonsall Unified School District (will remain closed Tuesday)
• Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
• Fallbrook Union High School District
• Mountain Empire Unified School District
• St. Peter the Apostle (Catholic school)
• Spencer Valley School District
• Valley Center-Pauma Unified

These colleges, schools and school districts will reopen Monday:

• Bella Menter Montessori Academy (charter School)
• Carlsbad Unified School District
• Classical Academy and Classical Academy High School (charter schools)
• Coastal Academy (charter school)
• Epiphany Prep: Escondido campus (charter school)
• Escondido Charter High School (charter school)
• Guajome Park Academy (charter school)
• Heritage K-8 (charter school)
• Julian Union Elementary School District
• Julian Union High School District
• MiraCosta College District
• Momentum Learning juvenile court and community schools (operated by San Diego County Office of Education: Youth Day Center, Breaking Cycles North County, Innovations Academy of Empowerment, North County Technology Academy
• North County Academy (school operated by San Diego County Office of Education)
• North County Trade Tech High School (charter school)
• Oceanside Unified School District
• Palomar College
• San Marcos Unified School District
• Scholarship Prep (charter school)
• Vista Unified School District
• Warner Unified School District

Other Closures

These facilities will reopen Monday:

• Fallbrook Community Resource Center in Fallbrook
• North Coastal Family Resource Center, Aging and Independence Services, and Child Welfare Services located at Union Plaza Court in Oceanside
• North Coastal Public Health Center located in Oceanside

The North Coastal Family Resource Center will open at 7 a.m. All other offices open at 8 a.m.

ALSO SEE:

• All Evacuation Orders Lifted For Lilac Fire In San Diego County
• Lilac Fire: 182 Structures Destroyed, 50 Percent Contained
• Lilac Fire: 4,100 Acres Burned, Some Evacuations Lifted
• San Diego County Under Red Flag Fire Warning Through Sunday
• SDG&E Shuts Off Power To Thousands In San Diego County
• Lilac Fire: Schools, Colleges Closed Friday In San Diego County
• Lilac Fire Burns Out Of Control In San Diego County
• Strong Santa Ana Winds Prompt 'Extreme' Fire Warning In San Diego

Photo by David McNew/Getty Images