Otay Mountain

EVACUATIONS ORDERED AS BORDER 2 FIRE BURNS THOUSANDS OF ACRES

Update 12 p.m.:  Cal Fire has mapped the fire at 5,389 acres. It remains 10% contained. View laetst evacuation areas, whcih have expanded,  here:  https://app.watchduty.org/i/41110 

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – The #Border2Fire has exploded overnight to 4,250 acres with 10% containment, Cal Fire reports this morning.  Per San Diego County Sheriff, #Border2Fire. An evacuation order has been issued for people who live in the red shaded areas as shown on the map at left as of early this morning. It means there is an immediate threat and you need to leave right now. An evacuation warning has also been issued for the areas in yellow.

Areas under evacuation notices include Dulzura, portions of Jamul, Lower Otay Reservoir, Otay Mt. Truck Trail, Campo Rd., the Elite Training Center and more. Otay Ranch Town Center and Olympian High School are under evacuation advisories.

Evacuation Points: Red Cross volunteers are supporting two temporary evacuation points: 

  • Edwards Theater, 2951 Jamacha Rd., El Cajon 
  • Southwestern College, 900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista

 

Note: Evacuations orders and warnings may be updated frequently; for the most recent maps please see:

https://protect.genasys.com/fullscreenMap?  and

http://emergencymap.sandiegocounty.gov/index.html


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BORDER 2 FIRE ON OTAY MOUNTAIN SPREADING AT "DANGEROUS" RATE

Update 5:05 p.m.-- The #Border2Fire is now 248 acres and still 0% contained. Winds have shifted toward campgrounds with campers at Pio Pico told to evacuate and Thousand Trails campers receiving a warning to be prepared, per social media posts from campers at these sites.

update 4 p.m.-- The fire is now 148 acres per Watch Duty app and is large enough to be visible from space. (Photo, right, via NASA)

Update 3:45 p.m.-- The fire is now 50 acres and 0% contained, per Cal Fire.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo  by Barry Jantz: Border 2 Fire viewed from Jamul, with Jamul Casino in foreground.

January 23, 2025 (San Diego's East County) -- The #Border2Fire that started within the hour on Otay Mountain is now 20 acres and burning at a "dangerous" rate of spread, per Watch Duty App. Cal Fire lists the size as 10 acres with potential for 200 acres.

The fire started near Otay Truck Trail in the Otay WIlderness area.  Infrastructure on the mountain is threatened, per Watch Duty App.


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HUNDREDS ARRESTED ON OTAY MOUNTAIN DURING BORDER PATROL ENFORCEMENT OPERATION

 

East County News Service

January 18, 2017 (San Diego) — In mid-October, the Border Patrol launched Task Force Otay, focused on targeting criminal organizations that exploit the vast network of human smuggling routes on Otay Mountain. Since the onset of Task Force Otay on October 16, Border Patrol agents arrested more than 1,000 people who illegally entered the U.S. on Otay Mountain. 


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CALFIRE INFORMS ECM REGARDING MEXICO FIRE ALSO FLASH FLOOD ALERT ISSUED

September 4, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- CalFire has informed East County Magazine that there is a fire  4 miles south of Otay Mountain. There is no danger to the U.S., but smoke is visible from the U.S. side of the border.

In addition, a flash flood warning has been issued for the eastern portions of the county. See http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/


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MEXICO FIRE CROSSES U.S. BORDER

 
August 13, 2012 (Otay) – The Copper Canyon/Otay Mountain fire that started in Mexico has crossed the U.S. border and is currently 8 acres. No structures are threatened, Cal Fire reports.  View a map: 
 

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