West Fire: County Supervisors Extend Emergency Declaration

ALPINE, CA – The West Fire destroyed 36 homes and 29 other buildings, county officials announced Tuesday as the Board of Supervisors voted to extend a declaration of emergency in the aftermath of the 504-acre blaze that broke out amid a record-setting heat wave.

The fire started Friday morning on the south side of Interstate 8 in the Cleveland National Forest and quickly spread to nearby residential neighborhoods.

"We had structures on fire within the first about eight minutes of the fire burning," local Cal Fire Capt. Tony Mecham said.

At the height of the fire, 90 percent of San Diego County Fire Authority and local Cal Fire crews were deployed to fight the flames, which also damaged 18 homes and two accessory buildings, according to authorities.

A shelter set up by the American Red Cross served 91 people displaced by the fire. Additionally, the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds hosted 10 horses, three goats and three alpacas displaced by the blaze.

The fire was 97 percent contained as of Tuesday morning. Crews will be at the site through the weekend to watch for any flare-ups, Mecham said.

Meantime, the Building Fire in Dulzura destroyed one home and one other building and also damaged an accessory building. The 10-acre fire also broke out Friday.

County officials have set up an assistance center at the Alpine Library to help those affected by the fire navigate the recovery and rebuilding process.

Also see:

• West Fire: Alpine Blaze Destroys 57 Structures
• West Fire: Heat-Stoked Blaze Destroyed 18 Structures In Alpine
• West Fire: 400 Acres Burned, Homes Destroyed In Alpine

By City News Service

Image via Alpine Sheriff's Station