Nearly 230 firefighters battling McCain fire in eastern San Diego County for second day

SAN DIEGO — More than 230 firefighters were battling the 1,000-acre McCain fire in eastern San Diego County on Tuesday, trying to make progress before winds picked up in the afternoon.

The fire was sparked shortly before 4 p.m. Monday when a car involved in a solo-vehicle crash on Interstate 8 near McCain Valley Road near Boulevard ignited nearby brush. The blaze quickly spread, and in three hours it had charred more than 900 acres, fire officials said.

The driver was transported to a hospital with moderate injuries.

Crews were able to take advantage of cooler temperatures overnight and make progress putting lines around the blaze. By Tuesday, it was reported 5% contained.

“It is hot and dry, and we are supposed to get up to the mid-90s with 14% humidity, with some winds picking up this afternoon,” Cal Fire spokesperson Capt. Mike Cornette said. Forecasters said they expect extreme heat in the region through the end of the week.

Four water-dropping helicopters got to work early on the fire, hoping to make progress before fire activity kicked up later, he said.

“We’ve got resources from all over Southern California assisting us,” Cornette said.

An evacuation order was in place for DeAnza Springs Resort, a luxury motel and recreational vehicle site a few miles north of the border, and the surrounding area. An evacuation warning was issued for the area near Table Mountain.

The Golden Acorn Casino has been designated as a site to temporarily receive evacuees. More than 140 residents had left their homes, Cornette said.

The blaze was north of I-8 and burning in a north-northeast direction west of the DeAnza resort, he said Tuesday.

The McCain fire was one of several burning in eastern San Diego County.

Another fire was reported around 11:40 a.m. near Kitchen Creek Road and Old Highway 80, according to Cleveland National Forest officials. By Tuesday morning, the fire had charred around 47 acres and was reported 50% contained, a forest official said.

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San Diego Union-Tribune intern Noah Lyons contributed to this report.

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