EL MONTE FIRE 10% CONTAINED, FORWARD SPREAD STOPPED
August 21, 2010 (Lakeside) 9:05 p.m. --“Barring anything else happening it looks like it is contained for the night,” Chief August Ghio, head of the San Diego Fire Chiefs Association informed East County Magazine at 8:45 p.m. The fire which began in the El Monte Valley early this afternoon is more than 2,000 acres, but forward spread has been halted, he confirmed.
The U.S. Forest Service is taking over management of the fire, which is now burning in the Cleveland National Forest.
“A type two management team has been requested,” Ghio did not foresee any immediate danger of the blaze spreading to neighbor communities such as Ramona or Alpine, barring another major incident or high winds.
Two firefighters have suffered minor injuries, according to Cal-Fire spokesperson Roxanne Provaznik. No homes have burned, though some El Monte Valley residents were evacuated.
“All resources will be on the fire tonight: 25 engines, 8 hand crews, and one hoser,” Cal Fire’s Daryll Pina said. “There will not be any aircraft flying tonight because of the steep terrain canyons.” Winds are calm at present, he added, and the fire is 10% contained. “We’ll be going all night; it’s slow going. We’ll have a better estimate (on containment) in the morning.”
No structures have burned, though equipment at El Capitan did burn, he confirmed.
Cause of the fire remains under investigation, however Pena said there are no indications that the blaze was related to several other small fires earlier today in East County.