FIRES HAVE CHARRED THOUSANDS OF ACRES IN EAST COUNTY MOUNTAIN AREAS

August 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The Vallecito Lightning Complex southeast of Julian near Vallecito has charred  2,352 acres and is now 30% contained. Cost to suppress this fire is $805,000.  Two fires are also continuing to burn near Scissors Crossing  northeast of Julian. The  Wilson Fire has burned 1,400 acres and is 5% contained.  The Stewart Fire is 0% contained and has burned 600 acres so far, Cal Fire reports. 

All fires are now burning in the vicinity of Anza Borrego Desert State Park.  No structures are threatened and cause remains under investigation, however lightning is the likely origin as there were multiple lightning strikes in the vicinity.

Map at right shows the three fires' locations. 

Below is additional information provided by Mike Mohler at Cal Fire:

Fire Information Line:  (619) 590-3160

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Incident Name:  Vallecito Lightning Complex         Location:  Northeastern San Diego County

Incident Command:  CAL FIRE Incident Management Team #10

Start Date & Report Time:  August 13, 2012 8:00 am                    Cause:  Lightning

Fires:             

1. Vallecito:        Acres: 350     Containment: 30%    E/of Hwy 79, N/of Anza Borrego State Park
2. Cooper:          Acres:  2         Containment: 100% Chihuahua Valley Rd., E/of Hwy 79
3. Stewart:          Acres:  600     Containment: 0%      E/of Hwy 78, S/of Grapevine Canyon                      
4. Wilson:           Acres:  1,400  Containment: 5%      S/of S22, W/of  Borrego Springs

Fire Engines: 27                    Fire Crews: 22                                   Bulldozers: 2 

Helicopters: 4                         Airtankers: 3                                     Total Personnel: 565

Injuries: 1                               Structures Damaged: 0                     Structures Destroyed: 0

Current Situation:  Firefighters continue to make progress, though there is still a considerable amount of open fire line. Extreme terrain and distance from roads are making access to fires difficult for ground resources. With the significant fire history of the area and the predicted weather changes, firefighting resources remain committed to support active and contingency operations throughout all affected communities. There is a threat to the 69KV electrical distribution lines in Grapevine Canyon that serve the communities of Borrego Springs, Warner Springs, and Ranchita.

Evacuations Advisory:  No current evacuation orders.

Closures in effect for the general public:  Highway 78 and Stonewall.

Cooperating Agencies:  CAL FIRE, San Diego County Fire Authority, US Forest Service, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Parks & Recreation, Cal EMA, Bureau of Land Management, Caltrans, California Conservation Corps, American Red Cross, San Diego Gas and Electric, and numerous local firefighting agencies throughout the state.

 
Additional Information:  Residents who need more information can contact the Vallecito Lightning Complex Information Line at (619) 590-3160, or go to www.fire.ca.gov. Twitter: @calfiresandiego

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