UPDATE: Wildcat Fire at 150 Acres Burned, Not Contained

Updated at 11:30 p.m. June 17, 2015:

Wildcat Canyon Road has been reopened but the acreage of brush scorched by fire has grown, Cal Fire officials reported late Wednesday.

About 150 acres had burned by 11:30 p.m., but containment was still at 10 percent.

Helicopters and air tankers were grounded once night fell but 275 firefighters remained on scene, said Kendal Bortisser, Cal Fire captain.

On Thursday, 14 hand crews will be assisting the firefighters, Bortisser said.

Updated at 10:30 p.m.:

A fast-moving wildfire spread over brushy hillsides and ravines east of the Barona Casino, scorching dozens of acres, threatening back-country homes and forcing some residents to leave their homes was partly contained as night descended upon the East County.

The blaze erupted for unknown reasons off Wildcat Canyon Road and Akuunyaa Way in the Lakeside area shortly before 5 p.m., according to Cal Fire.

Within 90 minutes, the wind-driven flames had scorched roughly 50 acres and were moving toward some residences, said Cal Fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser but by 8 p.m., the rate of spread was slowed and the fire was 10 percent contained.

Deputies cleared the occupants out of seven homes in the southeastern reaches of Barona Indian Reservation and advised them to wait out the blaze at the nearby casino. No structural damage or injuries had been reported as of shortly before 6:30 p.m., sheriff’s Lt. Robert Smith said.

Crews were battling the blaze, dubbed the Wildcat Fire, on the ground and aboard four air tankers and five water-dropping helicopters, Bortisser said.

Authorities closed Wildcat Canyon Road between San Vicente Road and Barona Casino until further notice.

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Update at 8:09 p.m.:

The Wildcat Fire has slowed its spread and was 10 percent contained, at 50 acres scorched, Cal Fire reported about 8 p.m.

Update at 7:31 p.m.:

Cal Fire officials said via Twitter that the Wildcat Fire is now at about 50 acres as of 7:30 p.m.

Original story:

A fast-moving wildfire spread over brushy hillsides and ravines east of the Barona Casino late today, scorching dozens of acres, threatening back-country homes and forcing some residents to evacuate.

The erupted for unknown reasons off Wildcat Canyon Road and Akuunyaa Way in the Lakeside area about 5 p.m., according to Cal Fire.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the wind-driven flames had scorched about 40 acres and were moving toward some residences, said Kendal Bortisser, a fire captain with the state agency.

Crews were battling the blaze, dubbed the Wildcat Fire, on the ground and aboard firefighting aircraft.

Deputies were helping clear people out of neighborhoods in the path of the blaze, sheriff’s Lt. Jim Bolwerk said.

By City News Service

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