Fueled by scorching heat and strong winds, several brush fires encircled San Diego County on Friday, incinerating multiple structures and forcing the evacuation of 2,400 people. Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in San Diego County, saying that the largest fire in Alpine, near Interstate 8 and West Willows Road, posed “extreme peril” to public safety. That blaze, dubbed the West fire, ignited at 11:25 a.m. and scorched 400 acres before firefighters stopped its forward progress about five hours later. By nightfall, the fire was 5% contained. The cause of the blaze was under investigation, said Capt. Kendal Bortisser of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Several hundred firefighters were battling the blaze from the ground and air. Two firefighters were hospitalized, with one suffering heat-related injuries and another slight burns to his face. Advertisement “We have made great progress [on the fire] but there is still a lot of work to be done,” Bortisser said. “The fuels are stressed. You combine that with winds and high heat and you have the potential for a disastrous wildfire.” Temperatures hit 109 degrees in Alpine, with winds 25 mph to 35 mph, said Jimmy Taeger, a National Weather Service meteorologist in San Diego. He said temperatures were expected to drop slightly Saturday but that a heat advisory would remain in effect. Red Cross spokeswoman Emily Cox said an overnight shelter was opened at Los Coches Creek Middle School, east of El Cajon. Companion pets would be allowed there. In the parking lot outside the shelter, Ben Stanfill sat sweating on a rock, his motorcycle helmet propped on a smaller rock at his feet. He got a call about 1 p.m. from his mother, asking him to go to her house and pick up her cat. He raced there on his motorcycle, where he met up with his sister and her boyfriend. A little before 4 p.m., Stanfill, his mother, his sister and her boyfriend arrived at the shelter, loaded down with belongings. “We just grabbed everything you can’t replace or re-buy,” Stanfill said. “My grandma’s photographs, the cat, my sister’s Mickey Mouse teddy bear she’s had since she was little.” Stanfill’s mother’s house was not in a mandatory evacuation area, and the family was unsure how close the flames may have gotten. They just wanted to be safe. Advertisement “Now we just wait and see,” Stanfill said. Area resident Enrique Camargo said he ran toward the fire area to check its progress after getting word that he was supposed to evacuate. His wife got busy packing the car. Still, he said was not sure if they would follow through with leaving. “Let’s see what happens,” Camargo said. Advertisement Another resident, who asked not to use his last name, said in a cellphone call about 1:30 p.m. Friday that he was perhaps 600 yards from the fire. He had no idea if his home was OK. “I can’t get to my house,” Randy said. “They [officials] won’t let me get to my house.” Aerial television footage showed what appeared to be five or six mobile homes and vehicles on fire. Later footage showed single-family homes catching fire. Bortisser could not say when residents would be allowed to return to their homes. Advertisement Two fires were burning at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base, and residents from about 750 homes were evacuated. Some were sent to a McDonald’s on base. The largest broke out about 11:30 a.m. and had burned 125 acres as of 6 p.m. In Dulzura, a fast-moving brush fire that destroyed a garage, shed and mobile home also threatened other structures along Community Building Road off state Route 94, fire officials said. Some residents evacuated after an estimated 10 acres burned quickly through the area. The blaze was 75% contained by Friday evening, Bortisser said. Advertisement In San Bernardino County, a fast-moving fire that ignited Friday afternoon had grown to 1,000 acres by nightfall, prompting a mandatory evacuation of the Forest Falls area. Residents aiming to leave posted photos of firefighters hosing water on the flames, plumes of black and gray smoke, and traffic jams. “My girlfriend and her family are trapped in a long line of cars that are blocked up in Forest Falls trying to get out,” wrote a Twitter user, M.O. Marmalade. “I hope they can get everyone through this junction ASAP.” A mandatory evacuation also was underway in Goleta in southern Santa Barbara County after a vegetation fire ignited about 8:45 p.m. and threatened multiple structures. Santa Barbara County fire official Mike Eliason said five strike teams were called to the scene. Then he abruptly ended the phone call. “I got flames in my face,” he said. Advertisement pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com Repard, Figueroa and Pearlman write for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Times staff writer Teresa Watanabe in Los Angeles contributed to this report.<doc-sep>WATCH LIVE FIRE COVERAGE: ONLINE, IN APP, ON TV UPDATES: WEST FIRE 1:45 P.M. SUNDAY Sunday afternoon, Cal Fire said a total of 34 residential structures and 22 other buildings were destroyed in the blaze. 20 other buildings and homes were also damaged in the fire. #WestFire [update] Update from damage assessment teams: Residential Structures Destroyed: 34 Residential Structures Damaged: 15 Accessory Buildings Destroyed: 21 Accessory Buildings Damaged: 5 Commercial Building Destroyed: 1 pic.twitter.com/W13kKH7mQY — CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) July 8, 2018 WEST FIRE 1:20 P.M. SUNDAY The West Fire burning in Alpine is now 92 percent contained and has scorched 505 acres, Cal Fire said in a tweet Sunday afternoon. WEST FIRE 12:50 P.M. SUNDAY Cal Fire announced early Sunday afternoon that all evacuation orders and road closures have been lifted. #WestFire [update] All evacuation orders and road closures are lifted. Please see attached new release for details. pic.twitter.com/90mZtySXWQ — CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) July 8, 2018 WEST FIRE 10:30 A.M. SUNDAY: A local assistance center will open Monday, July, 9 at the Alpine Library to help those impacted by the West Fire. The center will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. WEST FIRE 7:45 A.M. SUNDAY: Cal Fire tweeted early Sunday morning that a fire burning in Alpine has remained at 504 acres and is 81 percent contained. POWER OUTAGES 7 A.M. SUNDAY: As of 7 a.m. Sunday morning, 159 residents were still without power in Alpine due to the West fire that scorched hundreds of acres and destroyed several structures. According to SDG&E, power is expected to be restored by 2 p.m. WEST FIRE 7:30 P.M. SATURDAY: Due to more accurate mapping, the West Fire is now 504 acres and is 81 percent contained. Evacuation orders and road closures remain in effect throughout the night. CAMP PENDLETON FIRES 6:45 P.M. SATURDAY: More than 1600 acres have burned in three separate fires on Camp Pendleton. The largest of the fires, the Horno fire, has burned about 1,200 acres. It is currently 30 percent contained. The Vandegrift Incident scorched 560 acres and is 70 percent contained. The smallest of the fires is close to 40 acres and does not pose a danger to structures or personnel. MIRAMAR FIRE 6:10 P.M. SATURDAY MCAS Miramar tweeted the fire is 100% contained, and thanked San Diego Fire for assistance. ---- LAKESIDE RODEO 4:00 P.M. SATURDAY The rodeo shut down as a shelter for animals after all livestock was reunited with owners. ---- SAN DIEGO FIRES 3:20 P.M. SATURDAY To help residents displaced by the West Fire in Alpine and Building Fire in Dulzura, the County of San Diego has established a hotline at 858-495-5200 open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Residents can also visit the county's recovery website here. A local assistance center will open Monday at the Alpine Libary. --- WEST FIRE 3 P.M. SATURDAY Evacuation warnings west of the fire perimeter have been lifted. Evacuation orders west of South Grade Rd. have also been lifted. Evacuation orders remain in place through Saturday and until further notice for: Suncrest Vista Lane, Highlands View Rd., Manzanita View, Olive View, Scenic View Rd./Scenic View Pl., Pine View, Viejas View Pl., Sage View, Oak View Rd., Verde View Rd., Calle Caleta Viejas, Via La Mancha Closures also remain in place for: Alpine Blvd. EB from South Grade Rd. ; Highlands Views SB from Honey Hill Ranch; Manzanita View EB from County Grade Rd. ; Olive View EB at South Grade Rd. ; Scenic View EB from South Grade Rd. ; Alpine Blvd. WB from W. Willows Rd. ; Honey Hill SB at Suncrest Vista --- WEST FIRE 11:50 A.M. SATURDAY Areas west of South Grade Rd., south to Japatul Rd. reduced to evacuation warning, open to residents only with identification. --- MIRAMAR FIRE 9:10 A.M. SATURDAY The Miramar Fire containment has reached 30 percent Saturday, and remains at 25 acres. --- CAMP PENDLETON FIRE 8:01 A.M. SATURDAY The Vandegrift Incident has reached 560 acres and is 70 percent contained, while the Horno Incident is now 1,000 acres and 0 percent contained, according to Camp Pendleton. --- WEST FIRE 7:33 A.M. SATURDAY West Fire is now 30 percent contained and remains 400 acres, according to Cal Fire. At least 18 structures have been destroyed and 8 other structures have been damaged. All evacuation warnings and orders remain in place. --- CAMP PENDLETON FIRES 7 A.M. SATURDAY DeLuz Housing has been approved to be reoccupied, following fires at Camp Pendleton. DeLuz Rd. remains closed and access is only available through 19th St. and Marine Dr. --- CAMP PENDLETON FIRES 10 P.M. Camp Pendleton tweeted that some areas are safe to return to. These areas affected by the Vandergrift Fire are now open: O'Neill Heights Housing, Wound Warrior Regiment and 27 Area Barracks. They are cleared to go back home. O'Neil Camp Ground is open so that personal items can be gather, no one is authorized to stay. DeLuz Housing is NOT APPROVED to be reoccupied. Access via Vandergrift Blvd to Santa Margarita Rd. DeLuz Rd remains closed. --- MIRAMAR FIRE 7:39 P.M. Miramar fire now 25 percent contained and remains 100 acres. There is no current threat to structures. --- WEST FIRE 7:24 P.M. The temporary evacuation point at Viejas Casino has been closed. Anyone needing shelter is instructed to go to Los Coches Creek Middle School, according to Ready San Diego. The fire remains at 400 acres, 5 percent contained. --- WEST FIRE 7:14 P.M. Cal Fire has issued evacuation warnings for Alpine Heights Rd. & all secondary roads running off of Alpine Heights Rd. Evacuation orders have been issued for Tavern Rd. at Alpine Blvd. east to Viejas Creek Tr., South to Japatul Rd. west to Tavern Rd. & all secondary roads within these boundaries. --- CAMP PENDLETON FIRES 6:54 P.M. The Vandegrift Incident has grown to 350 acres while the Horno Incident has been updated to 50 acres. --- CAMP PENDLETON FIRES 6:34 P.M. In addition to the Vandegrift incident, Camp Pendleton reports two other fires: the Horno Incident which has burned 15 to 20 acres. Basilone Rd. is closed from 43 Area to 53 Area. A third fire at Range 409. Camp Pendleton firefighters are monitoring the situation. --- CAMP PENDLETON FIRE 6:05 P.M. The Vandergrift Incident fire has reached 330 acres and is 40 percent contained. --- SAN DIEGO FIRES 5:59 P.M. Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in San Diego County due to the West Fire, which has "threatened critical infrastructure and caused the evacuation of residents." --- MIRAMAR FIRE 5:47 P.M. The forward rate of spread has been stopped for the Miramar Fire. The fire is now about 100 acres and 20 percent contained. --- SAN DIEGO FIRES 5:40 P.M. Cal Fire confirms that two firefighters have been injured today. In addition to the Alpine firefighter who suffered slight burns to the face, a second firefighter suffered heat-related injuries. --- WEST FIRE CLOSURES 5:27 P.M. The EB I-8 Tavern Road on-ramp has reopened, but off-ramps remain closed at EB and WB I-8 to Tavern Rd. and EB I-8 to West Willows Rd. --- WEST FIRE 5:10 P.M. The forward rate of spread for West Fire in Alpine has been stopped, Cal Fire reports. A boil water advisory has been issued for Alpine Oaks Estates, due to fire damage to the water system. --- BUILDING FIRE 4:50 P.M. Building Fire in Dulzura is 10 acres and now 75 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. --- MIRAMAR FIRE 4:42 P.M. Fire in east Miramar is currently 25 acres, 0 percent contained. San Diego Fire is assisting MCAS Miramar crews. --- FIRE-RELATED OUTAGES 4:25 P.M. SDG&E says 910 customers are still without power in the neighborhoods of Dehesa/ Alpine/ Rancho Palo Verde, Viejas/ W Descanso/ Boulder Creek. ---- WEST FIRE 4:10 P.M. West Fire in Alpine has scorched 400 acres, destroyed several structures, and is 5 percent contained, according to Cal Fire. One Alpine firefighter has suffered burns to the face and is currently in the hospital. Officials said the firefighter is in good spirits and expected to be released Saturday.<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up to receive our rundown of the day'sdirect to your inbox A brush fire that started in San Deigo on Friday has incinerated more than 400 acres of land and destroy dozens of homes in the foothill community of Alpine. Residents of Alpine were issued immediate evacuation orders as the fire spread along the busy Interstate 8. The brush fire sparked at around 11.30am local time, amid a scorching heatwave that sent the temperatures into triple digits. The fire began at Willows Road and Alpine boulevard, burning multiple homes as the blaze spread to cover more than 150 acres in less than three hours.<doc-sep>
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Hundreds of acres were scorched Friday as the West Fire ripped through an East County community, destroying dozens of structures and displacing residents. The fire was reported at about 11:30 a.m. off I-8 & West Willows Rd., before spreading west into the Alpine community. Two firefighters were injured in the fire. The first suffered slight burns to the face. The second firefighter suffered heat-related injuries. Sunday afternoon, Cal Fire said a total of 34 residential structures and 22 other buildings were destroyed in the blaze. 20 other buildings and homes were also damaged in the fire. As of Sunday afternoon, the fire has scorched 505 acres and is so far 92 percent contained. Also Sunday, Cal Fire lifted all evacuation orders and road closures. The announcement was made via Twitter. #WestFire [update] All evacuation orders and road closures are lifted. Please see attached new release for details. pic.twitter.com/90mZtySXWQ — CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) July 8, 2018 Cal Fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser said the fire isn't like most fires that have hit San Diego and has been scattered in between homes and over hills. Crews are expected to remain on the scene for the next couple of days. Triple-digital temperatures and wind gusts of 12-15 miles per hour fueled the fire's spread Friday, according to fire officials. High temps are expected to continue through Sunday. "You add a little bit of wind to that, it's just going to increase the potential of the fire spreading quicker and moving faster," Capt. Bortisser said. "That's what we saw yesterday, the high temperatures, the dead dying fuel throughout, and a little bit of wind." The cause of the fire is under investigation.