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Firefighters gaining upper hand against brush fire near Campo

Karen Kucher, The San Diego Union-Tribune on

Published in News & Features

SAN DIEGO — Firefighters took advantage of cooler temperatures overnight and made good progress against a brush fire near Campo in the East County that charred 350 acres of brush and prompted evacuations, a fire official said.

As of Tuesday morning, the fire was reported to be 25% contained and the forward rate of spread had been stopped. Crews worked through the night strengthening control lines and extinguishing hot spots in rocky, hilly terrain.

“It is looking good out here,” Cal Fire Capt. Robert Johnson said.

The Posta 3 fire began shortly after 12:30 p.m. Monday off La Posta Road and flames quickly spread. The blaze threatened structures and prompted evacuations on both sides of Interstate 8 at one point. Some residents south of I-8 remained under an evacuation order Tuesday.

People seeking shelter were being directed to a temporary evacuation point at Golden Acre Casino at 1800 Golden Acorn Way in Campo.

 

Old Highway 80 from Kitchen Creek Road to Crestwood Road and state Route 94 from La Posta Road to Old Highway 80 remained closed.

Several aircraft had dropped fire retardant on flames Monday, but none were assigned Tuesday. There were more than 190 personnel on the ground working Tuesday, including more than 20 fire engines, six hand crews, five water tenders and three bulldozers.

Johnson said fire officials planned to patrol the fire zone and look to see if any property damage had occurred. Two civilians were reported injured Monday but were not transported to a hospital.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.


©2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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