PROGRESS MADE ON CUTCA FIRE AT PALOMAR

Update July 26, 2015, 8 p.m. -- The CutCa fire is now 50% contained, Cleveland National Forest's Inciweb site reports. Crews are spiked out on the line for this evening and will resume work in the morning. Heat remains in the interior of the fire perimeter. Infrared mapping will occur this evening. Crews will continue mop-up operations tomorrow and cooler temps expected will help their efforts. Firefighters will maintain a community presence and provide structure protection if needed.The south/southeast portion of the Cutca fire is an area of concern with several hotspots and potential for ignited fuel rolling across the fireline. Crews are working to suppress this high priority section of fire.

In the fire area there is no previously recorded fire history. Fuels remain critically dry due to drought conditions and can be difficult to suppress, so firefighters are being highly vigilant in mopping up and patrolling for hot spots.

By Miriam Raftery

July 26, 2015 (Palomar Mountain)—The CutCa Fire on Palomar Mountain is now 20% contained, with the size now estimated at 167 acres.  Friday night, hotshot crews dropped in by helicopter worked through the night in rugged terrain to battle the blaze reported at 4 p.m. Friday July 24 east of CutCa Valley, two miles north of the Palomar observatory.

On Saturday crews backed up by air support later in the day made good progress, remaining overnight Saturday as crews manned firelines to protect the community and Palomar Observatory. No structures including Palomar Observatory are currently threatened and there are no evacuations in place. Campgrounds are busy and remain open. The U.S. Forest Service, which is in command on the fire, is maintaining contact with these campers in the campgrounds.

There will be a public meeting today regarding the fire at 3:30pm at Palomar Mountain Fire Station 79, 21619 Crestline Rd. Palomar Mountain, CA 92060.

The incident command post for the Cutca Fire is located along Hwy 79, west of the fire at Vail Lake Park. Numerous aircraft supporting fire operations are flying in the area. Motorists should exercise caution and reduce speed due to fire equipment and personnel on the highway.

On Saturday morning, Curt Waite, chairman of the San Diego Forest Fire Lookout Association, San Diego Chapter, told East County Magazine, ".  It is looking good today. I was at Hemet-Ryan Air Attack base this morning and they were not using any of the fixed-wing tankers." He sent in this photo taken from the Forest Service lookout tower on Palomar Mountain.