FIRE IN LAKESIDE STOPPED AT 17 ACRES, EVACUATIONS LIFTED

By Nadin Abbott

May 14, 2014 (Lakeside)--A brush fire Lakeside along I-8 business route and Aurora Drive sent up billows of dark smoke visible across much of East County late today.  The blaze, which started atop a small hill, charred 17 acres, according to Chief Andy Parr Of Lakeside Fire. Evacuation notices sent to 1,300 residences have now been lifted.

A road closure on Aurora Drive will remain in effect overnight.

Chief Parr applauded the effort of homeowners, who maintained defensible space that saved homes from destruction. Although the fire burned close to structures, none were lost or damaged.

Some homeowners stayed behind, one watering down property with a garden hose.

A witness told ECM she saw a transformer explode, however officials have not yet released the cause of the fire and SDG&E did not confirm whether its equipment caused the blaze.

Chief Parr said some overhead power lines did catch fire. Power remains out  in the area and according to the SDG&E site, no estimated restoration time has yet been established.

The crews that responded to the fire were those left behind at their regular stations.This ability to respond to this wild fire was part of the up staffing done in preparation for this weather that all agencies enacted before the weather came in like a sledgehammer.  So, while there is a major response to North County fires, including Heartland and CAL FIRE units, there were reportedly enough staff to answer medical aid calls and respond to fires in the East County.

Winds kept shifting, causing problems for firefighters at this and other fires today. and Chief Parr said that crews had to “be on their toes, and be aware of conditions.”

When I left at 8 p.m., firefighters were still fighting some spotting on the hillside, driven by small wind gusts.

ECM also talked to Breanna Keenan and Sarah Phillips, two teens who live in the area. Both said that they were very nervous when the fire started. Breanna added that the firefighters “saved us.” The teens were happy, however, to learn that their schools in Lakeside Unified and San Diego Unified will be closed tomorrow.

The fire started at around tp.m.  The teens saw the smoke and heard the sirens. Their families received reverse 911 calls and they were packed and ready to go.

They followed the events on Instagram and Twitter, joking that Facebook is for old people. Like many of their neighbors, they watched firefighters fight the fire and fortunately, bring it under control.