(UPDATED at 8:15 a.m. PDT June 24, 2016)
The growth of the Border Fire east of Potrero, California has slowed in recent days. CAL FIRE reports that it has burned 7,483 acres.
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(UPDATED at 7:20 a.m. PDT June 22, 2016)
The Border Fire at Potrero, California, 18 miles east of the greater San Diego area, continued to spread to the east on Tuesday, adding another 480 acres. CAL FIRE is reporting that it has burned a total of 6,500 acres, two residences, and 11 outbuildings.
A spot fire 1.2 miles northeast of the main fire had burned 40 acres as of early Wednesday morning.
#BorderFire Firefighters continue to make progress as containment rises. pic.twitter.com/sSqk55823k
— CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) June 22, 2016
Resources assigned to the fire include 1,604 personnel, 200 engines, 40 hand crews, 6 helicopters, 12 water tenders, and 7 dozers.
Highway 94 and the Pacific Crest Trail are closed.
#BorderFire [update] Potrero (San Diego Co) is 6,500 acres & 15% contained. Vid:@NBCSanDiego https://t.co/EHDNokTynd pic.twitter.com/TZ9hA6njRh
— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) June 22, 2016
@CAL_FIRE Capt. Bortisser: Over 1,000 fighting #BorderFire from the air and ground. https://t.co/4YYwlLyyds pic.twitter.com/F5TldApgVj
— FOX 5 San Diego (@fox5sandiego) June 22, 2016
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CAL FIRE reported at 7 p.m. on June 21 the revised size of the Border Fire was 6,020 acres.
Latest Facts – #BorderFire in San Diego County. 1,550 personnel, 6,020 acres burned, 1,000 structures threatened. pic.twitter.com/7QxDoljeDW
— justin-time (@justinmccauley5) June 22, 2016
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(UPDATED at 5:25 p.m. PDT June 21, 2016)
New evacuations were ordered for the Border Fire in San Diego County at 2 p.m on Tuesday June 21. It includes Lake Morena Village northwest of Campo, California.
CAL FIRE reported that there are 1,484 personnel assigned, plus 158 engines, 32 hand crews, 6 helicopters, 12 water tenders, and 3 dozers.
The mandatory evacuations have been placed in parts of the city of Duarte and in the national monument still remain in effect.
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(UPDATED at 6:10 a.m. PDT June 21, 2016)
CAL FIRE’s latest estimate on the size of the Border Fire at Potrero, California was 7,500 acres late Monday afternoon. Our very rough analysis of Monday night’s mapping data puts it much closer to 6,000 acres … but it may eventually grow into the larger figure.
The fire has gone through or past several small communities with names like Dog Patch, and has come within two miles of Campo, which was the first evacuation shelter. When the fire grew closer to Campo, the shelter was moved to the rest area on Buckman Springs Road at Interstate 8, and was later relocated to El Cajon at the Los Coches Creek Middle School, 9669 Dunbar Lane.
According to CAL FIRE mandatory evacuations are still in effect for the communities of Potrero, Forest Gate, Star Ranch, Cowboy Ranch, Dog Patch, & Canyon City. Highway 94 remains closed.
The number of structures destroyed remains at four outbuildings. There have been three minor injuries to firefighters.
While the temperature on Tuesday and Wednesday will be closer to 90 than the recently seen 105 degrees, the weather for the next two days is still a concern for firefighters, with west winds predicted at 13 to 16 mph including gusts of 21 to 26 mph. The relative humidity will be in the low 20s each day.
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(UPDATED at 9:29 p.m. PDT June 20, 2016)
The map above shows Monday’s eastward movement of the Border Fire at 1:20 p.m. It became well established on the north side of Highway 94.
At 3 p.m. CAL FIRE reported the fire had burned 1,900 acres, and “triple digit temperatures and single digit humidity are creating extreme fire behavior and increased activity is being experienced”.
Evacuations are still in effect.
#BorderFire Photos | Crews battle 7,500-acre fire in Potrero Monday: https://t.co/ecQnNMb4EY pic.twitter.com/TnnjqyVrBJ
— andrea mora (@amorandrea) June 21, 2016
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(UPDATED at 1:22 p.m. PDT June 20, 2016)
New evacuations have been ordered for the Border fire near Potrero, California. Mandatory evacuations are now in effect for the community of Potrero, Forest Gate, Star Ranch, Cowboy Ranch, Dog Patch, & Canyon.
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(UPDATED at 9:08 a.m. PDT June 20, 2016)
Live video from the Fox TV station in San Diego at 7 a.m. PDT Monday showed very little activity on the Border Fire near Potrero, California just north of the Mexico border. It was generating smoke but much of it was hanging in the valleys or drifting off to the west. There were a few areas with active flame.
Highway 94 is closed and the evacuation order for Potrero remains in effect. The evacuation shelter is at the Campo Elementary School, 1654 Buckman Springs Road.
At 7:30 a.m. PDT CAL FIRE reported the fire had burned 1,900 acres and destroyed four outbuildings. There have been three firefighter injuries that required transport to medical facilities. They expect to have a very significant number of aircraft supporting firefighters today. An incident management team has been ordered.
Click on the above image to enlarge.
At 8:27 PDT Monday morning it was already 99 degrees at Potrero. The weather forecast for the fire area indicates the potential for continued significant fire spread on Monday. The wind should be out of the north and northwest at 6 to 18 mph with gusts at 21 to 29 mph, and relative humidity of 8 percent. Firefighters will also be battling the heat — 105 degrees. Tuesday will be 13 degrees cooler with partly cloudy skies, but it will still be breezy with 13 mph west winds gusting to 21 and a relative humidity of 22 percent.
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Originally published at 7:20 p.m. PDT, June 19, 2016.
The Border Fire started in triple-digit temperatures at 11 a.m. today and by 7:15 PDT had grown to 1,500 acres (according to CAL FIRE) and forced the complete evacuation of Potrero, 18 air miles southeast of the San Diego metropolitan area. It is burning near the Mexico border north of Tecate, Mexico close to the intersection of Highways 94 and 188, requiring the closure of Highway 94.
Numerous structures are threatened and some cellular phone service has been knocked out by the fire.
The video below is a time-lapse from Sunday afternoon.
The high temperature at Potrero today was 104 degrees with 9 percent relative humidity. It will be even hotter on Monday with a forecast for the fire area of 111 degrees, 8 percent relative humidity, and winds out of the north and northwest at 13 to 18 mph. These predicted weather conditions will present a challenge for firefighters having to work in that environment, but the weather will also be conducive to additional fire growth.
We will update this article as more information becomes available.
My prayers are with you all .
Bill Gabbert was right about the inaccuracy of the fire map, the San Diego Union Tribune is reporting that the fire has burned 7,500 acres.
Police are blocking people from getting their pets but allowing them to get horses and cattle WTF
I love I’m potrero and am now at campo evac ctr. The fire has reached bell valley in the east side of potrero. I’m told most homes north of sr94 are
allright, but a few structures south are gone. No confirmation in this though.
Would you ask if anyone there in your evacuation center is named Janice or Becky Burton and Travis Burton. We are their family and not able to make contact. Mt email is klou.zim@Comcast.com. Any help is appreciated. Kathy Burton and Richard Burton