Wildfire Burns 185 Acres In Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

SAN DIEGO, CA — A wildfire scorched dozens of acres Thursday in the eastern reaches of San Diego County.

The blaze, called the Great 3 Fire, sparked at 12:21 p.m. off Great Southern Overland Stage Route in the Agua Caliente area of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, according to Cal Fire. By 4 p.m., the fire had blackened 150 acres and was 5% contained.

Ground crews and personnel aboard firefighting aircraft worked to fight the flames. A total of 140 personnel, five helicopters, 15 engines, two dozers, five water tenders, five crews and seven others were assigned to the blaze.

One civilian was injured, Cal Fire officials said. There were no structural threats.

By 6:45 p.m., crews stopped forward progress of the fire. The blaze had burned 185 acres and was 25% contained.

Great Southern Overland Stage Route of 1848 — Highway S-2 — was closed from mile marker 24 to mile marker 25 due to the fire, according to the Department of Public Works. The roadway reopened shortly after 8:30 p.m.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.