FIRE IN JAMUL CONTAINED WITH NO DAMAGE

Story and photos by Nadin Abbott

June 20, 2012 (Jamul)-- The fire that started this afternoon around the Thousand Trails Campground damaged no structures, and burned about 30 acres. According to Mike Mohler, Public Information Officer for Cal Fire, it was "wind driven, with light fuel."

Early reports mistakenly informed media that the fire started in a structure, based on a caller who reported the fire and believed it to be in a structure.

The crews were able to bring it under control pretty quick using four air tankers, four Helicopters, 15 engines, five water tenders, five hand crews and 80 firefighters. They used a straight up frontal attack.

The civilians at the Thousand Trails Campground were ordered to shelter in place.

According to Steven Lucas, a camper at Camp A, it was lucky "that it was cool." He was far more concerned about Jamul, on the other side of the hill. Luckily the wind was blowing away from the camp, and he did not feel threatened at any moment.

The fire brought tense moments for survivors of the 2007 Harris Fire in Jamul, including Deerhorn Valley editor Kim Hamilton, who began preparing an evacuation box .

Fortunately, a swift and strong response by firefighters quelled what some had feared could escalate into a major fire. 

Fire officials urge the public to clear defensible space around homes as we enter peak wildfire season, particularly with financial resources for firefighting statewide cut thin.