FIRECREWS KNOCK DOWN FIRE AT BUCKMAN SPRINGS NEAR MOUNT LAGUNA

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott

September 3, 2012. (Pine Valley)—Fire crews quickly put down the fire on Westbound Interstate 8, just west of the Buckman Springs onramp. At no time there were structures under any kind of a threat. There was one slight injury to a firefighter, due to heat, and he is expected to recover.

According to Battalion Chief Michael Tucker, United States Department of Forestry, the fire started due to a vehicle fire. The first unit on scene was a brush truck from the agency that found the vehicle fully engulfed with spread into the brush, which was thick.

Fire personnel from the U.S. Forest Service, CAL-Fire and the County of San Diego, quickly went to work laying out hose, in very steep terrain, aided by helicopters and air tankers.

According to Chief Tucker there were 200 personnel on the line, and they are expected to stay overnight and until tomorrow involved in mop up operations.