Ranchita fire

BRUSH FIRE IN RANCHITA

July 25, 2023 (Ranchita) -- The #WilsonFire in Ranchita was ignited by a lightning strike around 4 p.m. today,  according to a witness, Miguel Estrema.  Cal Fire reports the fire has burned 2-3 acres at a slow rate of spread 2 miles south of Old Wilson Rd & Montezuma Valley Rd.

Multiple helicopters are making air drops on the fire, per Cal Fire.


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STRUCTURE FIRE HALTED IN RANCHITA

By Miriam Raftery

Video by Miguel Estrema

June 19, 2023 (Ranchita) --  A single-family home in Ranchita across the street from a  Cal Fire station erupted in flames on Saturday.

Cal Fire responded to the fire on Valley View Drive.  On Twitter,  Cal Fire stated, “There is a single story residential structure that is well-involved in fire.The fire has extended into the vegetation; additional units have been dispatched.  #MontezumaIC.”


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BRUSH FIRE NEAR VOLCAN MOUNTAIN-RANCHITA AREA; PLANE REPORTED DOWN

 

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

 

Update May 11, 2018 12:45 p.m.: Crews have found wreckage of an airplane but have not been able to identify the plane, nor whoever was aboard.  Anyone with information is asked to notify the Sheriff.

Update May 11, 2018 10 a.m.:  Morning firefighting crews are nearing the site; the fire is now 10 acres, Cal Fire reports.

Update: 9:55 p.m. from Cal Fire: Incident commander reports the fire is 3 to 4 acres, burning at a slow rate of spread on the north side of Volcan Mountain. There are no homes in the area of the .

May 10, 2018 (Ranchita/Julian) -- Cal Fire confirms that a brush fire is burning near Volcan Mountain in steep, inaccessible terrain tonight.  The Sheriff's Department has confirmed to ECM news partner 10 News that deputies can see flames near Ranchita, near Volcan Mountain, between Warner Springs adn Borrego.  A plane has been reported down, according to HAM radio reports and calls to authorities though the crash is not yet confirmed.

Brett Staulbaum, a ham radio operator in Shelter Valley, relayed this message to ECM warning of a possible risk to the nearby Shelter Valley area:


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FIREFIGHTERS PULLED FROM MULTI-AGENCY DRILL HELP BATTLE 1,500 ACRE SAN FELIPE FIRE

 

 

By Nadin Abbott

Update May 24, 2013: 2 p.m. - The blaze is now 1800 acres.

Update May 24, 2013: Cal Fire held the blaze to 1500 overnight and now has 60% containment, with no threat to structures. One minor injury to a firefighter occurred.

May 23, 2013 (San Felipe)—Around 1 p.m., Cal Fire informed San Diegans through its Twitter account that it was conducting a controlled burn near the site of last year’s Ranchita Fire.Soon after, according to Cal Fire Deputy Chief Kely Zombro, “The winds shifted in an unprecedented way.”

The fire escaped the containment area, triggering mobilization of resources from across the region. As luck would have it, a multi-agency wildland training drill was being conducted at the Barona Reservation, where firefighters were swiftly shifted from the drill to the fire scene for a hands-on real-life exercise.


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BRUSH FIRE NEAR RANCHITA STOPPED

 

Update October 27, 2011 at 12:50 p.m. -- The fire's spread has been stopped at 15 acres or less, Cal-Fire spokesperson Roxanne Provaznik confirms.  "The Incident Commander has released  one strike team of engines, three water tenders, and all aerial firefighting equipment, except for one helicopter," she said. Firefighters will be committed for several more hours mopping up any remaining hot spots.


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