Brush fires in Dulzura and Alpine; 114 degrees in Ramona
UPDATE: July 6, 2:40 p.m. — The temperature in Ramona dropped to 111 degrees shortly before 2 p.m., the National Weather Service reported at Ramona Airport. Easterly winds were 18 mph with gusts up to 28 mph.
In Alpine, the brush fire has grown to 350 acres, leveled homes and forced evacuations, with no containment, officials reported. The Lakeside Rodeo Grounds at 12584 Mapleview Drive is open for large animal evacuations, the county Department of Animal Services said. Anyone needing assistance with large animal evacuations may contact the department at 619-498-2361.
In another part of the county, a brush fire that broke out about 11:30 a.m. at Camp Pendleton forced evacuations and had burned about 40 acres by early afternoon in the Mainside area, the Marine Corps base reported.
UPDATE: July 6, 1:50 p.m. -- The temperature was 115 degrees at Ramona Airport just before 1 p.m, the National Weather Service reported.
Cal Fire San Diego reported that the West Fire in the Alpine area is 150 acres and zero percent contained, with a critical rate of spread.
San Diego County Sheriff’s Department reported that the American Red Cross is setting up an overnight evacuation site at Los Coches Creek Middle School at 9669 Dunbar Lane in El Cajon.
A temporary evacuation site has been set up at the Viejas Casino parking lot.
ORIGINAL REPORT, July 6, 12:20 p.m. — The temperature gauge hit 114 in Ramona just before noon Friday, some residents reported on Facebook they received a warning from San Diego Gas & Electric that it may shut off electricity in their area, and a brush fires erupted in Dulzura and Alpine.
Ramona’s 100-degree heat on Thursday broke the previous record of 99 degrees in 1996, the National Weather Service reported, anticipating temperatures as high as 115 on Friday. The agency issued a one-day excessive-heat warning from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and projected record-high temperatures throughout the county.
The Dulzura blaze started for unknown reasons shortly before 10:30 a.m. off state Route 94, near Community Building Road in Dulzura, the California Highway Patrol reported. As of 11 a.m., the flames had spread over about 10 acres and engulfed a building. It was not clear what type of structure it was.
There were no evacuation orders and by 11 a.m. Cal Fire released air tankers from the fire and reported that crews would remain at the scene for several hours for mop-up.
In Alpine, firefighters are working to extinguish a fast-moving brush fire that has spread over about 10 acres near Interstate 8 and West Willows Road, Cleveland National Forest officials report. The blaze is threatening structures, City News Service reported at 11:50 a.m.