Lilac Fire: 182 Structures Destroyed, 50 Percent Contained

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – Firefighters continued to make progress on a wildfire that sparked amid extreme fire weather conditions in northern San Diego County, keeping flames from spreading toward the coast thanks to more favorable winds and humidity levels on the second day of the firefight. Although Santa Ana winds were expected to strengthen as firefighters battled the Lilac Fire for the third day, the fire was 50 percent contained by Saturday evening.

The blaze, which broke out Thursday, has burned 4,100 acres, destroyed 182 structures and damaged 23 others along the State Route 76 corridor that stretches west from Interstate 15 through Bonsall and Fallbrook. At least 1,500 structures remained threatened Saturday evening, according to Cal Fire.

UPDATE: Lilac Fire 60 Percent Contained In San Diego County

Six people, including two firefighters, suffered injuries in the fire.

The death toll for horses at San Luis Rey Downs training center in Bonsall reached 46 as of Saturday morning, according to California Horse Racing Board spokesman Mike Marten.

Thousands of people were evacuated as the fire impacted the communities of Bonsall and Fallbrook, as well as the cities of Oceanside and Vista. More than 100,000 reverse 911 and evacuation notices were sent to residents, officials said.

By Friday night, when firefighters reached 15 percent containment, Cal Fire downgraded evacuation orders to voluntary evacuation warnings for parts of Fallbrook, Oceanside and Vista, while other evacuation orders remained in place.

Roughly 7,700 people live in the area that remained under evacuation orders Friday night, according to recent census figures. Five shelters were open, with 205 people, county officials said.

By Saturday night, only the shelter at Palomar College in San Marcos remained open, offering shelter to 117 evacuees, according to the county.

As of Saturday night, power remained out for about 5,500 San Diego Gas & Electric customers throughout the county, including 1,800 customers in the fire zone area and thousands of more customers whose power lines were de-energized due to gusty winds and public safety concerns.

As a precaution, the utility company initially cut power to more than 20,000 customers across the region, county officials said.

SDG&E crews have identified at least 40 poles that were damaged in the fire, officials said.

As a precaution, the county's Department of Environmental Health issued a boil water advisory for parts of East County because a few public water systems lost pressure in their water distribution systems during the power outages. The advisory was issued for Boulevard Pines Mobile Home & RV Park in Boulevard, Butterfield Ranch and Vallecito County Park in Julian, and Cameron Corners and Campo Group in Campo.

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

Roads within the area under the mandatory evacuation order were still closed, including State Route 76 from Interstate 15 and East Vista Way.

Legoland California in Carlsbad reopened on Saturday after closing Friday due to the fire.

Officials advised residents to stay on high alert through the weekend as weather conditions can quickly shift. San Diego County remains under a red flag warning through 8 p.m. Sunday.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

The Lilac Fire was one of several fires that affected Southern California this week. The largest fire sparked in Ventura County, where more than 132,000 acres burned starting inland before reaching the Pacific Ocean.

Evacuation Orders

• West Lilac Road and Sullivan Middle School
• South of Burma Road, East of Wilshire North of North River Road, West of South Mission Avenue
• South of Reche Road, West of Interstate 15
• East of Green Canyon Road and South Mission Road, North of State Route 76

Evacuation Warnings

• West of Wilshire to North River Road
• South of North River Road from Wilshire to Holly Lane
• South of Holly Lane from North River Road to Mission Road
• South of Little Gopher Canyon Road to Sagewood Road
• South of Dentro De Lomas at Nors Ranch Road
• Via Maria Elena south of Camino Del Rey
• Camino Del Rey south of Bobritt Lane
• Aquaduct Road south of Via Ulner Way
• North of Tumbleweed Lane between Sleeping Indian Road and Olive Hill Road
• South Mission north of Hellers Bend
• Sunset Grove Road north of Via Encinos
• Alta Vista Drive north of Palomar Drive
• Linda Vista Drive north of La Canada Road
• Knottwood Way north of Flowerwood Lane
• Gird Road north of Mary Lewis Drive
• Sage Road north of Brodea Lane

Open Shelters

• Palomar College, 1140 West Mission Road, San Marcos
• Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., in Del Mar (for livestock and large animals)

ALSO SEE:

• 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 Mark Ritter