Lilac Fire Almost Fully Contained A Week After Breaking Out

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – A week after the Lilac Fire broke out in Bonsall, fewer than 140 firefighters remained in San Diego's North County Thursday to finish digging containment lines around the blaze. The wildfire burned 4,100 acres, destroyed 157 structures and damaged 64 others between Fallbrook and Oceanside, according to Cal Fire.

The fire was 98 percent contained as of Thursday evening.

In total, 1,659 firefighters and other personnel helped battle the blaze at one point or another, though that number was down to 779 as of Wednesday morning as crews worked to finish digging containment lines to isolate the burn area in case of hot spot flare ups.

Only 137 firefighters remained assigned to the fire by Thursday morning.

Responsibility for creating the perimeter around the smoldering burn zone was transferred Wednesday to Cal Fire San Diego units. Prior to Wednesday, all decisions were being made by a joint command team from Cal Fire, the North County Fire District and the Vista and Oceanside fire departments.

Officials expect to have the blackened burn zone fully contained Dec. 21, two weeks after the first flames broke out west of Interstate 15 and north of Lilac Road in Pala Mesa amid gusty Santa Ana winds.

The Lilac Fire destroyed 157 structures – many of them dwellings in the Rancho Monserate Country Club mobile home park in Fallbrook – and damaged 64 more. No human deaths were reported, but at least 46 horses died, many of them stabled at the San Luis Rey Downs Training Center in Bonsall.

At least six injuries have been reported since the blaze broke out, 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.

As crews wind down their work containing the Lilac Fire, the same type of Santa Ana winds that drove the blaze are expected to again sweep through parts of San Diego, though they'll be weaker than they were last week. Still, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning that went into effect at 4 a.m. Thursday for San Diego County's inland valleys and mountains. The warning is set to expire at 10 a.m. Friday.

ALSO SEE: Red Flag Warning Issued For San Diego County

"A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly," weather officials said. "A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior."

Weather officials warned any fires that develop "will likely spread rapidly and be difficult to contain."

The Santa Ana winds that prompted Thursday's red flag warning are expected to die down by Friday morning before strengthening again Saturday night into Sunday.

Locally, fire agencies are bracing and preparing for any new fires, while in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, fire crews are continuing to battle the massive Thomas Fire. That blaze, which broke out 11 days ago and is still only 30 percent contained, has now grown to the fourth largest in California's history at more than 242,000 acres burned.

The 2003 Cedar Fire in San Diego County still holds the record as the state's largest wildfire at 273,246 acres, while the 2007 Witch Fire and 1970 Laguna Fire, both in San Diego County, are also among the 10 largest in California history.

ALSO SEE:

• Strong Winds Return To San Diego County
• Red Flag Warning Issued For San Diego County
• Fire Weather Watch Issued For Parts Of San Diego County
• Crews Inch Closer To Full Containment Of Lilac Fire
• Lilac Fire 90 Percent Contained In San Diego County
• 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

By City News Service; Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this report.

Photo by Maggie Avants/Patch