Update May 3, 2021 7 p.m. All evacuation orders, evacuation warnings, and road closures related to the Southern Fire have been lifted.
Update May 2, 2021 5:50 p.m. The American Red Cross is providing hotel rooms for persons evacuated from the Southern Fire. The hotel rooms are located in El Centro, CA. If you are in need of a hotel room due to being evacuated, contact the American Red Cross at (571) 595-7910.
Update May 2, 2021 3:34 p.m. The #SouthernFire has swelled to 5,184 acres per Cal Fire. Firefighters are making good progress and the blaze is now 25% contained.
Update May 2, 2021 2 p.m. p.m. County Fire reports that aircraft and Copter 129 are on scene; a helitanker and a second copter are en route. Tankers are unable to drop due to the wind. Fire is burning southwest of the Butterfield community. The County has issued a smoke advisory, noting that smoke is blowing southeast of the fire, into Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Update May 2, 2021 8:45 a..m. The Southern Fire is apprxoimately 2900 acres and 0% contained, per Cal Fire San Diego Overnight, strong winds of 40-60 mph were observed; firefighers continue working to build a containment line. Animals evacuated can be sheltered at Vallecito County Park, 37349 Great Southern Overland Stage Route.
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
Photo via SDG&E webcam
May 1, 2021 (Shelter Valley) -- A fire near Agua Caliente State Park, the "Southern Fire" in the community of Mason Valley, has burned 1,200 acres in two hours late today. (Note, an earlier version of this article stated the fire was in the vicinity of Shelter Valley, based on incorrection information from the County Office of Emergency Services)
Cal Fire reports that three structures have been destroyed. Around 500 people have been evacuated from Butterfield Ranch Campground.
An evacuation center has been set up at Agua Caliente County Park at 39555 Great Southern Overland Stage Route, Julian, CA 92036.
So Cal Air Ops reports that tankers were dispatched but are unable to drop fire retardant due to strong winds.
Parts of Great Overland Stage Route (S-2) may be closed in both directions. State Parks is manning a hard closure of S-2 at mile marker 30.
If you are asked to evacuate by fire or law enforcement, please do so immediately. Part of the fire was burning down a hill, misleadingly reducing the amount of smoke.
The fire is burning in difficult terrain for ground crews. Cal Fire reported at approximately 3:18 p.m. that "[f]irefighters continue to make great progress from the air and ground."
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