Winds Push Julian Area Blaze in 3 Directions

A wildfire east of San Diego spread in three directions Sunday, prompting authorities to project that containment will take a week longer than previously anticipated.

Wind and low humidity caused the fire to spread rapidly in recent days through the dry trees, scrub and grasses of the drought-stricken mountain region, said Lora Lowes, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry.

The wildfire, which was about 60% contained Sunday afternoon, had burned across 39,512 acres.

Firefighters now hope to have the fire surrounded with fire breaks by Sunday. “It’s kicked up,” Lowes said. “It’s still a very volatile situation in some places.”

Winds gusted at 10 to 20 mph as the fire advanced toward sparsely populated areas to the north, northeast, and northwest of the town of Julian, about 60 miles east of San Diego. The former mining town itself was not threatened.

The Pines Fire has destroyed 16 homes, 24 sheds and other types of outbuildings as well as 46 vehicles, causing more than $1.4 million in damage. Fourteen of the 2,300 firefighters have suffered minor injuries since the fire began July 29, when a National Guard helicopter on an anti-drug patrol clipped power lines.