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By Nadin Abbott; photos by Tom and Nadin Abbott
June 17, 2018 (San Diego)—Aerial and ground firefighting efforts, including bulldozers, held yesterday’s brush fire to 110 acres. The blaze started around 4:30 off the shoulder of State Route 52 just east of Santo Road. Flames spread quickly in light to medium fuels into the boundary of Mission Trails Regional Park, precipitating a multi-agency responses.
When we first arrived on scene at Highway 52 and Santo Road, the highway was clogged with a hard closure of the on ramp.
At the onramp ECM talked to Jessica Lwendy, who brought her two young nephews to view the fire. She has lived in the area since well before the 52 went in; when young she used to come and watch the fires jump from one side of the valley to the other. She called this “a rite of passage.”
Because we could not go down to the command post due to the traffic jam, we decided to try to find another way in. As we drove to the Mission Gorge side of Mission Trails, we never lost sight of the large cloud of smoke and the pungent odor of burning brush filled the air.
Once we got to the eastern entrance to the park, we encountered Jay Wilson, executive director.He confirmed that Rangers were evacuating hikers from the park and that the entire Mission Trails Regional Park was closed to all people due to the fire. He also said that Rangers were posted at every entrance to prevent “lookie loo from entering the park.”
We continued on to Santee, where the smell of the fire was quite strong, then drove back on 52.
The fire raised several concerns. The traffic snarl and heavy smoke led some motorists to make U-turns and drive the wrong way on the freeway, CHP reported. Had this been rush hour on a work day, it could have been far worse.
When the Incident Command was established at around 4:40 p.m., the fire was at two acres, and the Incident Commander expected this not to grow beyond 20. The Incident Commander immediately requested more resources not just from San Diego, but also agencies such as Heartland, Chula Vista, Cal Fire, and others. These included air attack units and multiple hand crews.
Fueled by 10-15 mile per hour winds, the fire grew in intensity and the Incident Commander established a medical plan, with EMS units supporting fire operations. By evening the fire was 70% contained and units planned to remain on scene overnight. The fire crossed into the park, CHP reported by early evening, and fire dozers were bought into the park, with the full knowledge of park rangers.
The fire was held at 110 acres thanks to a swift multiagency response through mutual aid. It good that winds were low to moderate; had Santa Ana winds been blowing it could have been far worse.
This wildfire also drives home the validity of concerns raised by area residents over SDG&E’s proposal to build the Quail Brush gas-fired power plant in the vicinity, which would put explosive fuel just outside the park boundary.
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