Border Fire in San Diego County Grows to 1,500 Acres

San Diego County, CA — A 1,500-acre brush fire that broke out Sunday in eastern San Diego County near Tecate was 5 percent contained as of 11 p.m., Cal Fire San Diego County reported.

Four outbuildings have been destroyed and a firefighter injured.

Crews were first dispatched at 11:03 a.m. Sunday to the fire just north of the Tecate Junction, off Highway 188 and Highway 94.

By 2 p.m. the wildland fire had grown to 200 acres, forcing the closure of a section of State Route 94 — from Route 188 to Potrero Valley Road — as well as the evacuation of the entire community of Portero.

Capt. Kendall Bortisser of Cal Fire San Diego said more than 250 crew members were dispatched to battle the blaze from the ground and from the air. KFMB reported that along with Cal Fire, crews from the city of El Cajon and U.S. Navy were called out.

Along with the blaze itself and 100-plus degree weather, firefighters had to deal with winds up to 16 mph, as the day progressed.

Cal Fire officials said no traffic was allowed on Highway between the border and Highway 94.

California Highway Patrol and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department helped evacuate residents and ranchers.

Early on, temporary evacuation centers were set up at Campo Community Center, 976 Sheridan Road, in Campo, and at Dulzura Community Center.

Sunday evening, American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties announced that volunteers would staff an overnight evacuation center at Campo Elementary Center, 1654 Buckman Springs Road.

For help with large animal evacuations, residents can call San Diego County Animal Services at 619-236-2341.

— City News Service contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for updates as more information is added.

(Patch file photo/Maggie Avants)