SOME BORDER FIRES SPARKED BY MIGRANTS, IGNITING SAFETY CONCERNS

Photo via CalFire: Border 47 fire was started by migrants, possibly seeking rescue in a remote location near the border, according to Cal Fire.  The blaze charred 50 acres. 

August 13, 2024 (San Diego) – The vast majority of California’s wildfires are caused by humans, as Cal Matters recently reported. Vehicles and lawn equipment are the most common culprits in accidental fires, while a few have natural causes from lightning. 

But along the international border, campfires lit by migrants and fires set by smugglers have sparked numerous recent blazes -- also igniting public safety concerns.

After a surge in border fires in May, Amy Reichert, chairwoman of Restore San Diego, obtained public records from CalFire from May 1 through June 1. .Reichert claimed that  of the eight fires along the border May 1-June 1, seven were tied to illegal border crossers, with one of undetermined cause, since it started in Mexico. 

ECM fact-checked that claim and found it largely accurate, with migrant fires the most likely cause of six fires, shooting the most likely cause in one fire despite a campfire nearby, and the Mexico fire of undetermined cause.

“This crisis poses a significant threat to our entire county and has far-reaching national implications,” Reichart said.  She noted, “San Diego County residents, already on edge due to living in high wildfire threat areas, face additional stress as insurance companies flee California, raise rates, or drop homeowners’ coverage entirely.” Environmental damage and risk to area residents, property owners, and the safety migrants, are also concerns.

The border fires from May 1 through June 1 were quickly contained, ranging from less than an acre to 50 acres, with no structures lost and no injuries.  Still, the potential for a border-area fire to cause far greater damage exists, as with the 2022 Border 22 fire that  burned 4,436 acres and destroyed 30 homes. Cause of that wildfire remains undetermined. A 2016 border fire burned over 7,600 acres,burned 16 structures and claimed the lives of two Potrero residents. Its cause was also never determined.

Here’s a summary of the recent border fires, along with Cal Fire’s investigative results, some of which were inconclusive.

May 11:  Border 44 Fire in Marron Valley south of Jamul:  27 acres. This fire was “probably arson,” Cal Fire’s incident report states. Fire was “dragged from a bonfire in the middle of Barrett Truck Trail to set fire to a nine-tire Border Patrol road drag” which ignited grasses.  Cal Fire states there is “high suspicion” that “this was related to international travelers” and noted that dozens of bonfires had burnt out on Barrett Truck Trial. Of note, a Cal Fire speaker recently at a Jamul-Dulzura Fire Safe Council meeting said there have been recent incidents of smugglers setting fire to distract immigration authorities from other illegal activity nearby.

May 13: Border 45 Fire, Marron Valley:  2.43 acres. Cause is believed to be “burning personal items, possibly a signal fire for help” as occurs when a migrant becomes lost, injured or dehydrated.  Eight people found nearby denied setting the fire.  In addition to migrants, this is also an area with homeless people/transients, according to Cal Fire.

May 14,Border 46 Fire, base of Tecate Peak:  4.7 acres. Cause was a distress/signal fire; vacated campfires were in the area.

May 15, Border 47 Fire, Marron Valley:  50 acres. Probably cause is arson. The report notes that migrants “finding themselves in a remote and mountainous location with no signage or infrastructure to receive them, typically seek transit out of the area by any means possible and have previously called9-11 and/or started fires seeking to  attraction attention to their location and expedite a response.”  Border Patrol had apprehended a large group of migrants and a second group approached Cal Fire’s crew, though both groups denied setting the fire.

May 19, Border 49 Fire in Marron Valley:  3.89 acres:  This was caused by debris and open burning from a bonfire set on the edge of a roadway. Cal Fire found a “high level of suspicion” that the fire was started by international travelers who had crossed the border, finding evidence of “dozens of bonfires set by international travelers” along Barrett Truck Trail. (Photo, right)

May 26, Border 51 Fire,Marron Valley:  10.98 acres. Cal Fire could not determine the cause of this fire despite evidence of an “open fire for warming/cooking” as a contributing cause. However, a witness reported hearing gunshots and saw smoke, as well as a black vehicle driving away form the area, a popular shooting area, so gunfire is also a possible cause. Shell casings were found near the fire, but also burned personal items including clothing, shoes, and papers.

June 1, Border 52 Fire in Otay:  0.1 acre.  Cal Fire found the most probably cause to be shooting, since targets and shell casings were found, but campfire was listed as another possible cause.

June 1,Border 53 Fire which burned 300 acres burned on the U.S. side of the border. Cause is undetermined, since it started in Mexico.

At least three more border-area fires occurred in July. Cause remains undetermined on these, per Cal Fire incident reports, including the Border 66 fire which charred 300 acres.

Border fires tied to migrants and smugglers heighten concerns over a border that remains porous despite new border walls. What are the potential solutions?  Some political voices call for shutting down the border, though even a 30-foot wall has failed to to halt illegal border crossings ranging from asylum seekers fleeing danger to drug smugglers. Others call for humane immigration reforms, such as expansion of a recent pilot program allowing migrants from three nations to apply for asylum in their home countries instead of undertaking a dangerous border crossing to seek asylum in the U.S.

For now, Cal Fire is staging resources near the border to pounce on these small fires early with ground crews and aerial support.