Border Fire Update: All Evacuation Orders Lifted

[Photo by Ed Sherman]

Potrero, CA — Authorities lifted all evacuation orders for areas affected by the Border Fire at 6 p.m. Thursday as firefighters continued strengthening and securing containment lines — four days after the massive wildland fire first erupted in rural southeastern San Diego County.

A community meeting was also set to begin at 7 p.m. for residents affected by the blaze that has destroyed five homes and 11 other structures since it broke out for unknown reasons at about 11 a.m. Sunday near the junction of Highways 94 and 188 near Potrero.

The fire was 7,358 acres in size and 35 percent contained Thursday evening, according to Cal Fire-San Diego Capt. Kendal Bortisser.

Firefighters were able to construct additional control lines along the fires perimeter Thursday; however, if the
control lines are compromised the fire could potentially threaten the communities of Lake Morena and
Campo, as well as the outlying recreational areas as the fire continues to move north and northeast, according to an updated incident report from Cal Fire.

Residents were advised there would be three traffic-control points restricting access to the fire burn area:

• Closure — Located approximately 1 ½ miles north of Highway 94 on Harris Ranch Road – allowing access to all residential locations on Harris Ranch Road;
• Closure — Vollmer Road approximately ¼ mile north of Highway 94 at the Y intersection; and
• Closure — Martin Road approximately ¼ mile west of Highway 94 at the Y intersection – allowing access to residents located on Martin Road.

As of 7 p.m., there were 1,969 personnel fighting the fire from the ground and from the air: 55 hand crews, 185 engines, 24 water tenders, 13 helicopters and two air tankers.

• Border Fire Update: 5 Homes Destroyed, Some Evacuations Lifted as Firefight Continues
  
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• Border Fire in San Diego County Grows to 1,500 Acres

Fives homes, including three that were secondary residences located on the same parcel as the primary home, have been destroyed by the fire, as well as 12 outbuildings.

At least 1,000 homes were threatened at the height of the fire earlier this week.

Cal Fire’s Incident Management Team 5 planned to host a community beginning at 7 p.m. at the evacuation center at Los Coches Creek Middle School, 9669 Dunbar Lane in the Blossom Valley community of El Cajon.

“Representatives from the agencies managing and supporting the incident as well as local dignitaries will provide an operational briefing and be available for questions,” Bortisser said.

Residents can also call 2-1-1 for questions about the Border Fire.

Evacuees of western Potrero were allowed to return home Wednesday afternoon but had remained under a warning most of Thursday that they may need to evacuate again. Campo residents were also under an evacuation warning earlier Thursday.

Mandatory evacuation orders had also remained in effect earlier Thursday for the communities of Forrest Gate, Star Ranch, Cowboy Ranch, Dog Patch, Canyon City and Lake Morena, as well as the area bordered by Big Potrero Truck Trail / Hauser Creek Road to the south, west of Buckman Springs Road from Lake Morena Drive to Morena Valley Road, Morena Stokes Valley Road (Corral Canyon) at Sky Valley Ranch (Sky Valley Road) to the west and Morena/Stokes Valley Road (Corral Canyon) at Buckman Springs Road to the east.

SDG&E continued to make repairs to many downed power lines, while replacing poles lost to the fire.

The Pacific Crest Trail from the southern boundary of Cleveland National Forest to just south of Hauser Canyon remain closed due to the blaze.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency authorized the use late Sunday of federal funds to assist the state of California battle the wildland fire — meaning up to 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs can be recouped from the federal government. Eligible costs can include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and replacement; tools; materials; supplies and mobilization; and demobilization activities, according to FEMA.