MORE THAN A THOUSAND FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING GREAT FIRE; BLAZE BURNING N ANZA BORREGO STATE PARK AND FEDERAL FOREST LANDS

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October 2, 2011 (Borrego) – Cal Fire reports  that the Great Fire, which started south of 78 near Julian yesterday (see ECM report ), has grown to 2,000 acres and is only 5% contained, Cal Fire spokesoperson Roxanne Provaznik confirms. 

 

The fire has burned over the top of Granite Mountain, heading east into Anza Borrego Desert State Park and federal lands. 

 
 

 “The fire is burning on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and State Park land,” Roxanne Provaznik with Cal Fire said this morning. “Firefighters are constructing hand line, dozer line and contingency lines. Currently we have 51 engines, 43 fire crews, 5 bulldozers, 13 water tenders, 5 helicopters, 8 air tankers (1,019 firefighters),” she wrote in an e-mailed update.

 

 

No structures are currently threatened, Provaznik confirmed.

 

 

ECM reader Michael Voss forwarded a dramatic photo of the fire shot from the Borrego side of the mountains at 7:45 a.m. “ One lone small plane circling the fire,” he indicated, but sent an update later stating that firefighting planes began arriving on scene around 8:30 a.m.

 

 

An online blog for wildland firefighters indicated there is no road access in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park for fire fighters and limited access from the west. Hot shot firejumping crews have been requested a short time ago from the Palomar, Golden Eagle, and Laguna areas as well as an ORC Crew 1.

 

 

The smoke is visible from across San Diego County and even south Riverside County.  ECM reader Dexter Levy sent in the photo at left, taken from his home in La Mesa. 

 

 

The following website has a radio scanner where live updates can be heard on this fire as well as other incidents in the region:
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/a...=wp&feedId=227

 


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