UPDATE at 9:59 p.m. PDT, May 17, 2012
After CAL FIRE said the spread had been stopped in the afternoon, strong winds caused the fire to escape containment and at about 7 p.m. PDT the US Forest Service sent seven engines, a water tender, and misc. staff to the fire. At 8 p.m. CAL FIRE said the fire on the U.S. side of the border had grown to 100 acres and was10% contained.
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UPDATE at 4:11 p.m. MDT, May 17, 2012
CAL FIRE is reporting the spread of the fire on the U.S. side of the border has been stopped. The fire has burned 15 acres on the U.S. side and 600 acres on the Mexico side. The two air tankers have been released but the engines and water tenders will be on scene for several hours mopping up.
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A wildfire in Mexico east of San Diego may cross into California. At the time of the imagery above, 10:57 p.m. PDT May 16, the fire was less than a mile south of the border. CAL FIRE reported at 9:07 a.m. today that crews were responding to the area because the fire may threaten the United States.
The weather at the Boulevard weather station four miles north of the fire at 8:50 a.m. PDT today was 80 degrees, relative humidity of 24%, and winds out of the WSW at 8 mph, gusting to 12 mph. The forecast for later today is for the wind to come out of the west at 10 to 15 mph gusting to 24, and for the relative humidity to remain in the low 20s with a high temperature of 84 degrees. It sounds like firefighters may have their hands full this afternoon. I doubt if any of the 10 federal air tankers are available, but CAL FIRE has a bunch of S-2s at their disposal.
when did this fire start? I was in the Corral Canyon area on Tuesday and noted what looked like a large fire on 5/15 in the early afternoon in the direction of maybe Campo. Any ideas where as I’ve seen nothing fitting that date on Cal Fire’s website or our local news.
CAL FIRE “flash report” email:
· 150 acres in CA, 10 % Contained
· Rapid Rate of Spread
· 80 °, 20% RH, 20 mph gusting to 40 mph, West
Afternoon wind gusts pushed fire outside containment lines. Significant resource orders in process for tonight and tomorrow
Do the CalFire folks need work permits to go into Mexico and fight fire? If they forget their passports, can they get back in to the ole USA? Will TSA take away their “Leatherman” tools? And why doesn’t the “Wall” stop the fire at the border? Do they work for the Incident Commandante? Via con Dios, amigos!