WILDFIRE UPDATES

By Miriam Raftery

May 14, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) 8 p.m. --  Southern California Emergency Services has published a map of  9 fires burning across the region, as of 6 p.m. this evening:  https://twitter.com/SoCalEMSFire/status/466748689151954946/photo/1

Firefighters have gained control of the Sterling Fire in Lakeside, where 1,300 households were evacuated and residents are projected to be allowed back home around 9 p.m.  An eyewitness, Elizabeth Galloway, told ECM she saw a transformer explode, which apparently caused the fire.  Galloway sent the photo at the top of this page.

A red flag warning has been extended through tomorrow night due to strong winds forecast and hot, triple-digit weather.

For updates on the following fires, visit these links:

#BernardoFire https://twitter.com/search?q=%23BernardoFire&src=hash

#TomahawkFire https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TomahawkFire&src=hash

#HighwayFire https://twitter.com/search?q=%23HighwayFire&src=hash

#OceansideFire https://twitter.com/search?q=%23OceansideFire&src=hash

#PoinsettiaFire https://twitter.com/search?q=%23PoinsettiaFire&src=hash

#SanMarcosFire/#WashingtoniaFire https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SanMarcosFire&src=hash and https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WashingtoniaFire&src=hash

In Spring Valley, San Miguel Fire has halted forward spread of a small fire along del Rio Road.

A reader at Brush Fire Party Line has posted an unconfirmed report of a fire on Marron Valley Road in the Dulzura area at 6 p.m.

A fire at Jamacha Blvd. and Campo Road was also reported shortly before 7 p.m.

A new fire is reported on State Route 52 at Regents and Genessee, San Diego Scanner reports.

The California Highway Patrol reports  more road closures:

• Old Highway 395 in both directions from Dulin Road to Lilac Road

• Eastbound Highway 78 Twin Oaks Valley offramp is closed but Highway 78 remains open

• Business Interstate 8 (also known as Old Highway 80) between Las Coches Road and Main Street. (photo, right, of today's fire near Los Coches, taken by Jerrie Dean)

If you need emergency assistance in evacuation, call 9-1-1.

The County urges people NOT to call the 911 system unless it is a dire emergency. They ask citizens use the 211 system. The 911 system is taxed. Shawn Schick told ECM she tried to call 911 to report the Lakeside fire and got a busy signal this afternoon.  

A state of emergency has been declared countwide by Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Chair of the County Board of Supervisors.

Countywide, approximately 5,000 people have been evacuated.  Major fires continue burning in North County including the Camp Pendleton Fire, that has charred over 1,000 acres, and a Carlsbad fire that has burned at least eight homes.

Reader Joseph Moulton sent a photo taken atop Palomar Mountain’s fire lookout today showing three fires: the Poinsettia fire near Palomar Airport, Highway Fire at Deer Springs, and the fire on East Camp Pendleton. (Photo, right)

Interstate 15 is now open in both directions in San Diego County, California Highway Patrol is reporting. http://sdcountyemergency.com/updates/i-15-re-opened-5-14-14-1701/

The California Highway Patrol reports three more road closures:

• Old Highway 395 in both directions from Dulin Road to Lilac Road

• Eastbound Highway 78 Twin Oaks Valley offramp is closed but Highway 78 remains open

• Business Interstate 8 (also known as Old Highway 80) between Las Coches Road and Main Street.

If you need emergency assistance in evacuation, call 9-1-1.

The Highway Fire, which is burning near Old Highway 395 and Interstate 15 in Bonsall. An evacuation center has been set up at Fallbrook High School located at 2400 South Stage Coach Lane.

The Bernardo Fire is now 50% contained, burning west of Black Mountain Ranch, San Diego Sheriff reports.

The San Marcos Fire, burning near Lake Hodges,  Cal State San Marcos and nearby communities remain evacuated; evacuation centers are set up at Mission Hills High School and San Marcos Middle School

Large animals can be taken to Oceanside Ivy Ranch at 110 Rancho Del Oro in Oceanside, Cloverdale Ranch at 2460 Cloverdale Road in Escondido or Warner Ranch at 10950 Pala Road in Pala.

A fire in Mexico is putting up significant smoke visible across the southeast portion of the County.

For more information on the fires and non-emergency calls, call 2-1-1 or visit the San Diego County Emergency Site at www.sdcountyemergency.com.

Sign up for free Viejas Emergency Alerts via email at the top right side of our homepage and follow ViejasAlerts on Twitter to get alerts on your mobilephone.