Firefighters Contain Brush Fire

Gusty winds stoked a controlled burn by state firefighters in southeastern San Diego County on Thursday, kicking up embers that accidentally set fire to more than 500 acres of fields and brush.

After burning out of control for about 24 hours, the fire was contained Friday afternoon and was expected to be out by Sunday evening, said Roxanne Provaznik, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry, which set the fire.

Owners of Star Ranch in Cameron Corners had asked the CDF to use a controlled burn to clear out 80 acres of underbrush that had been growing unchecked since 1968. Star’s cattle ranch stretches over the rolling hills and grassy fields north of California 94.

The controlled burn was at the midway point when the sun came out, the humidity dropped, and winds up to 20 m.p.h. began to blow unexpectedly, Provaznik said. By 1 p.m., small patches of fire had cropped up beyond the burn lines and, within an hour, the grasslands were blazing out of control, Provaznik said.

Fifteen engines, a dozen shovel crews and a bulldozer were used to battle the fire until about noon Friday, the spokeswoman said.

Firefighters set up fire breaks along Lake Morena Drive near Buckman Springs Road to protect the few buildings in the area. No structural damage or injuries were reported, fire authorities said.

The CDF is regularly contracted by private property owners to conduct controlled burns in overgrown areas. The procedure expedites brush decomposition and the return of nutrients to soil.