Fireworks Blamed for 2 Brush Fires in East County; 55 Acres Charred

Fireworks were blamed for two brush fires Saturday that burned 55 acres in two remote areas of San Diego County.

California Department of Forestry spokesman Bob Vanderhyde said the first fire began at 1:06 p.m. at Buckman Springs Road, near the Cameron truck trail, in Campo. About 100 firefighters from the forestry department and from the U.S. Forest Service battled the fire, which burned 35 acres. It was controlled by 6 p.m. One firefighter was slightly injured when he suffered a second-degree burn on an arm, Vanderhyde said. Several structures were threatened, but none was damaged.

At 2:39 p.m. about 75 firefighters from the state forestry department and federal fire service responded to a report of a brush fire at Otay Lakes Road, east of Thousand Trails Park near Jamul. That fire scorched 20 acres before being controlled at 6 p.m. No injuries or damage to structures were reported.

No arrests were reported in either fire. Investigations are continuing, authorities said.