Friday, January 24, 2025

Otay Mountain fire 5,000+ acres; evacuation warnings, orders issued

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https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/otay-mountain-fire-us-mexico-border-chula-vista-san-diego/3733630/

Live Blog: Otay Mountain fire 5,000+ acres; evacuation warnings, orders issued

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Many people were watching the Border 2 fire unfold from Mountain Hawk Park in Chula Vista, where NBC 7’s Audra Stafford was on Friday morning.

What to know: Border 2 Fire

  • Size: 5,389 acres, 10% contained, moderate rate of spread
  • Evacuation centers: Parking lot at Edwards Cinema, 2951 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, 92019 & Southwestern College, 900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910. The American Red Cross has opened an overnight shelter for evacuees at Cuyamaca College Gym, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon
  • Road closures: Alta Road is closed to traffic just south of Otay Mesa Road; Otay Lakes Road closed from Wueste to CA-94 Campo Road
  • School closures: Chula Vista Elementary School District and the Sweetwater Union High School District closes some schools
  • Advisories: A smoke advisory is in effect for Otay Mesa and the surrounding areas

A large vegetation fire began burning Thursday afternoon on a hilltop near the U.S.-Mexico border. As night fell, the flames cast an eerie glow across Otay Mountain.

At a little before 2:30 p.m., Cal Fire San Diego tweeted out that the border fire had already burned 20 acres and had a "dangerous rate of spread." However, firefighters had downgraded the rate of spread to moderate, meaning that their efforts were beginning to bear fruit.

Flames from the fire could be seen racing up a hillside on Otay Mountain, near the Otay Mountain Truck Trail.

By 8:30 p.m., the fire had spread to 600 acres, then exploded overnight, growing to 5,389 acres by 11 a.m., with just 10% containment.

24 HOURS AGO3:29 PM PST

Otay Mesa brush fire 5,000+ acres; evacuation warnings, orders issued

Otay Mesa brush fire 5,000+ acres; evacuation warnings, orders issued

Smoke from the so-called Border 2 Fire, which was blowing west and southwest in the direction of Otay Mesa, was visible for miles, reports NBC 7’s Todd Strain.

A large vegetation fire began burning Thursday afternoon on a hilltop near the U.S.-Mexico border. As night fell, the flames cast an eerie glow across Otay Mountain.

Smoke from the so-called Border 2 Fire, which was blowing west and southwest in the direction of Otay Mesa, was visible for miles. Fixed-wing aircraft were seen making water drops on the fast-growing fire, including a very large air tanker assigned to fight the flames, according to Cal Fire. In the late afternoon, Cal Fire said 200 personnel had been assigned to the fight.

Flames from the fire could be seen racing up a hillside on Otay Mountain, near the Otay Mountain Truck Trail.

At a little before 2:30 p.m., Cal Fire San Diego tweeted out that the border fire had already burned 20 acres and had a "dangerous rate of spread." However, firefighters had downgraded the rate of spread to moderate, meaning that their efforts were beginning to bear fruit.

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51 MINS AGO2:54 PM PST

RV owners affected by Border 2 Fire assemble at evac center at Rancho San Town Center

Dana WilliamsDeuce the fabulous dog was evacuated from the RV Park along with his pawrents.

Deuce the fabulous dog was evacuated from the RV Park along with his pawrents.

Dozens of RVs and campers were parked at the Rancho San Diego Town Center after being evacuated from Thousand Trails Pio Pico RV Resort early Friday morning.

According to one of the managers of the RV resort, it can accommodate more than 400 guests at a time.

It's not clear how many people were there when they were told to evacuate.

A couple of the RVs that were parked at Rancho San Diego Town Center on Friday. Photo by Dana Williams
2 HOURS AGO12:48 PM PST

San Diegans relieved to learn rain is on the way for the weekend

San Diegans relieved to learn rain is on the way for the weekend

NBC 7’s Joe Little spoke to some Chula Vista community members who watched the “Border 2 Fire” creep too close to home.

As the red flag warning expires, San Diego can expect some widespread showers and some mountain snow this weekend, the National Weather Service said.

Winter Storm Watch will be in effect for the mountains from Sunday morning through Tuesday morning, bringing wintry conditions, snow showers and hazardous travel conditions along mountain highways.

Any rain is much needed for San Diego County, which has had the driest start to the water year (begins Oct. 1) in recorded history.

Although the red flag warning has expired and east winds are weakening, the air remains very dry and the fire risk will continue through the afternoon, NWS said.

Read Full Article

3 HOURS AGO12:18 PM PST

Point Loma photog captures remarkable image of Border 2 Fire

Chris MannerinoMannerino told NBC 7 on Friday morning that he took the picture on Thursday evening at the intersection of Evergreen and Sterne streets.

Mannerino told NBC 7 on Friday morning that he took the picture on Thursday evening at the intersection of Evergreen and Sterne streets.

Among the huge amount of amazing photos captured this week of the spate of brush fires around San Diego County, a shot of the Border 2 Fire recorded by Point Loma's Chris Mannerino stands out.

Mannerino told NBC 7 on Friday morning that he took the picture on Thursday evening at the intersection of Evergreen and Sterne streets.

The longtime San Diegan said he captured the arresting image with his Nikon Z9 camera and a 180-600mm lens, and used lens compression to achieve the dramatic effect. In reality, downtown San Diego was about three miles from where he was, while Otay Mountain is 18 miles away.

The technique he used requires that the background being captured must be at least twice as far away as what's being shot in the foreground.

3 HOURS AGO12:07 PM PST

UPDATE: Border 2 fire now at 5,389 acres; still 10% contained

Cal Fire updated the acreage at around 11 a.m.

4 HOURS AGO11:23 AM PST

Brush fire breaks out in Oceanside

Firefighters were called out Friday morning to battle a brush fire in North County.

The fire began burning before 11 a.m. near Parkside Drive and Fireside Street in Oceanside, officials said.

Image courtesy of Cal Fire

The fire was limited to 40 feet by 40 feet and burned with a slow rate of spread, but was located in an area of heavy vegetation.

Firefighters quickly gained the upper hand on the fire, however, and stopped it's forward rate of spread fairly rapidly. No structures were threatened by the fire.

5 HOURS AGO10:05 AM PST

Nearly 700 assigned to Border 2 Fire

6 HOURS AGO9:20 AM PST

WATCH: Timelapse shows brush fire burning near US-Mexico border

WATCH: Timelapse shows brush fire burning near US-Mexico border
Footage from an ALERTCalifornia camera shows a brush fire burning near the U.S.-Mexico border and sending a large plume of smoke into the sky in San Diego County.
7 HOURS AGO8:20 AM PST

Red Flag Warning continues until 10 a.m. Friday, winter storm this weekend

Red Flag Warning continues until 10 a.m. Friday, winter storm this weekend

San Diego weather today: Angelica Campos’ forecast for Jan. 24, 2025

The RED FLAG WARNING will be in place until Friday at 10 am for San Diego's mountains and inland valleys due to the extremely low relative humidity in the single digits and moderate to strong winds. Fire danger continues to be critical.

The Santa Ana wind pattern will come to an end, as a low-pressure system arrives and brings the chance for rain this weekend. It looks like we could have a wet weekend with the chance for Saturday, Sunday and possibly until early Tuesday morning.

This will be a cold storm system, which means we could see some snow in our local mountains late Sunday. The snow level could drop down to around 3,500 feet. Daytime highs will be 20 to 30 degrees colder than what we've experienced in the past two days.

Light to moderate rainfall is expected to spread across the county, helping to reduce fire risk and providing beneficial moisture for current wildfires. The first chance for measurable rain this year, which is desperate needed all around the county.

7 HOURS AGO8:08 AM PST

NBC 7's Joe Little at the scene of Border 2 Fire

Border 2 Fire: 4,250 acres, 10% surrounded
NBC 7's Joe Little is near the Border Fire with more details. 

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