Warm, Dry Weather Stokes Concern for Fire Season

Fire officials warned Monday that San Diego County appears headed toward a particularly dangerous fire season, fed by hotter-than-normal temperatures and the drought, which has left plants with dangerously low moisture levels.

A fire that consumed 5 acres of brush northeast of Jamul early Monday might be a small harbinger of things to come, a California Department of Forestry official said.

“The potential is here, and we have all the right ingredients . . . for a major fire,” said Capt. Jim Van Meter of the forestry department.

The four-year drought is adding significantly to the problem because plants are tinder dry, Van Meter said.

Monday’s fire in the 1500 block of Lyons Valley Road briefly threatened residences but was quickly contained, he said.

About 85 firefighters responded to the blaze, which was under control by 10:18 a.m., Van Meter said.

One of the few positives, at least now, is the lack of strong Santa Ana winds--the hot, dry easterly blast of air that dramatically increases fire danger, he said.

The city of San Diego is now under a high wildland condition, the most dangerous designation, said San Diego Fire Department spokesman Jon McDonald.

The wildland condition is based on humidity, wind speed, brush moisture and temperature, McDonald said. An overtime group of eight firefighters is often on duty from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. during this stage to combat brush fires when needed, he said.

Farmers must also be alert during the hot, dry spell. Monday morning the National Weather Service issued an agricultural heat advisory for inland San Diego County because the extended, above-normal temperatures might stress crops, said service forecaster Dan Atkin.

Although record highs are not expected, the temperature will probably remain 5 to 10 degrees above normal for most of this week and possibly into the weekend, he said.

The record high for June 25 is 88 degrees set in 1931. A high of 78 degrees was recorded Monday at Lindbergh Field, 5 degrees above normal for that date. The humidity was near normal at 60%.

“There is no real strong cooling trend in sight,” Atkin said.

The National Weather Service is predicting coastal highs of 76 to 81 degrees today, and a few degrees cooler Wednesday. Inland temperatures will be 94 to 102 degrees today, and 90 to 98 degrees Wednesday. Desert temperatures will reach 120 degrees today.

The reason for the heat is a strong, almost-stationary, high-pressure air mass centered over New Mexico, Atkin said. Temperatures are above normal in most of the Southwestern United States, he said.

Local lifeguards also have felt the heat. Warm weather and an Ocean Beach street fair combined to draw about 132,000 people Sunday to beaches stretching from Ocean Beach to Black’s Beach, said South Pacific Beach Lifeguard David Mico. Lifeguards made 222 rescues Sunday in that area, he said.

“The surf has been low, but the rip currents can still be real bad without the surf,” Mico said.

Despite the rising mercury, water use in the city has not increased significantly, Water Utilities Department spokeswoman Deneise Tefft said. Throughout the weekend, the city stayed within its goal of a 10% reduction in water use, she said.

Times staff writer Bonna M. de la Cruz contributed to this report.