SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – Multiple brush fires erupted in San Diego’s North County early Tuesday morning, prompting a fast response from firefighters and mandatory evacuations.
Latest updates on the fires:
10:42 a.m.: The evacuation center previously at the Castle Creek Golf Course was moved to Riverview Evangelical Free Church (3980 Sweetgrass Lane) in Bonsall.
9:50 a.m.: The Lilac Fire's forward rate of spread has been stopped, according to Cal Fire San Diego. Evacuation orders and warnings remained in effect.
As of 10 a.m., the Lilac Fire was 30% contained and has burned at least 80 acres.
Below, you'll find maps showing the evacuation zone and the areas under San Diego Gas and Electric's power safety shutoff.
7:30 a.m.: Cal Fire San Diego said crews were “making good progress” on the Lilac Fire in Bonsall and “fire activity has decreased significantly.”
As of 7:30 a.m., the Lilac Fire has scorched at least 80 acres and is 10% contained.
The North County Fire Protection District said 86 residents were displaced and two structures were damaged in the fire.
6:50 a.m.:
Some images from the #LilacFire this morning. So far it's burned 80 acres and is 10% contained.More resources are on the way now that the sun is up. pic.twitter.com/HjBpdgcgxr
— Jared Aarons (@10NewsAarons) January 21, 2025
6:32 a.m.: Citing high winds and SDG&E’s power shutoffs, schools in the following districts will be closed on Tuesday, according to the County Office of Education:
-- Julian Union Elementary School District
-- Julian Union High School District
-- Mountain Empire Unified School District
-- Spencer Valley School District
-- Warner Unified School District
Mt. Woodson Elementary in the Ramona Unified School District, and Lakeside Farms Elementary and DREAM Academy in the Lakeside Union School District were also closed Tuesday.
Schools in the Bonsall Unified School District were closed Tuesday due to the Lilac Fire response.
6:25 a.m.: While firefighters respond to the fires in the North County, about 14,000 customers in multiple parts of the county -- including in the Pala area -- were without power Tuesday morning as part of San Diego Gas & Electric’s Public Safety Power Shutoffs.
The decision to turn off power in select areas was made amid a Red Flag Warning and fire weather conditions for most of the San Diego region.
Almost 70,000 customers in numerous communities were advised by the utility to prepare for a potential shutoff in their areas.
Here's the outage map, as of 9:30 a.m. Tuesday:
SDG&E’s PSPS updates can be found at https://www.sdge.com/psps-dashboard.
6:07 a.m.: Cal Fire Capt. Robert Johnson told ABC 10News the Lilac Fire is 10% contained and has burned at least 80 acres as of 6 a.m.
5:37 a.m.: Additional road closures in Bonsall: Camino del Rey closed at Lilac Road; southbound I-15 off-ramp to Old Highway 395 shut down.
5:20 a.m.: CHP said only the California Ranch Company (43101 Anza Rd. in Temecula) will be open for large animals being evacuated. The Del Mar Horsepark (14550 El Camino Real in Del Mar, across from Del Mar Fairgrounds) was not yet opened for animal evacuees.
5:00 a.m.: Updated evacuation map for Lilac Fire (https://emergencymap.sandiegocounty.gov/index.html for more details):
4:57 a.m.: Officials say Old Highway 395 is closed from Dulin Road to West Lilac Road.
4:40 a.m.: Fire officials say Lilac Fire in Bonsall has now burned at least 80 acres and is 0% contained.
Cal Fire Capt. Robert Johnson told ABC 10News the agency confirmed some damage to structures, but the extent of the damage was unknown.
Johnson said crews on the ground were facing steep and rocky terrain in the firefight; he added about 155 firefighters were at the scene with more resources on the way.
Once the sun rises, additional fixed wing aircraft and air tankers can be deployed if needed.
4:30 a.m.: Bonsall Unified School District said all district schools are closed for Tuesday due to the fire and evacuations.
4:20 a.m.: Due to the response to the Lilac Fire in Bonsall, the CHP has issued a Sig Alert for southbound I-15 at Old Highway 395. Motorists are advised to expect a heavy backup in the immediate area.
4:16 a.m.: Per North County Fire Protection District, evacuation orders for the Pala Fire have been lifted.
4:14 a.m.: Two evacuation sites have been established for large animals, according to the California Highway Patrol:
-- Del Mar Horsepark (14550 El Camino Real in Del Mar, across from Del Mar Fairgrounds)
-- California Ranch Company (43101 Anza Rd. in Temecula)
3:48 a.m.: Cal Fire San Diego issued updates for the brush fires burning in North County:
Lilac Fire in Bonsall (I-15 near W. Lilac Rd.) – 50 acres burned and moving at a moderate rate of speed; air support has arrived to assist the numerous crews on the ground; evacuation orders & warnings are still in effect.
Pala Fire (off I-15 south and Stewart Canyon Rd.) – Crews stopped the fire’s spread at 16 acres burned.
Riverview Fire in Fallbrook (Santa Margarita Dr.) – Crews have stopped the fire’s forward rate of spread at one acre burned.
3:28 a.m.: Cal Fire is reporting the Lilac Fire in Bonsall has grown to 50 acres burned. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place.
3:21 a.m.: San Diego County sheriff's officials have updated evacuation zones related to the Lilac and Pala fires:
#UPDATE Here is the latest map showing areas under an EVACUATION ORDER (red) and EVACUATION WARNING (yellow) due to the #LilacFire per the Genasys Protect App. You can also see the map here: https://t.co/9thJuBNyhU.If you feel you are in danger, GO! The temporary evacuation… pic.twitter.com/acPoF5QqpY
— San Diego Sheriff (@SDSheriff) January 21, 2025
At around 1:15 a.m., the blaze dubbed the Lilac Fire was reported in an area near Old Highway 395 and Lilac Road, Cal Fire San Diego said.
The fire quickly grew and has burned 30 acres as of 3 a.m.; several structures were threatened, according to Cal Fire.
San Diego County sheriff’s officials said evacuation orders were issued for areas near where the fire broke out. An evacuation map shows the zones: https://emergencymap.sandiegocounty.gov/index.html.
An evacuation point was established at Castle Creek Country Club (8797 Circle R Drive) in Escondido.
At around 2 a.m., a brush fire called the Riverview Drive was reported in Fallbrook, near Mission Road and Riverview Drive.
It took about 45 minutes for crews to stop the spread of the blaze.
An evacuation order was issued for some communities in the Pala area due to a brush fire that erupted just before 1 a.m.
The Pala Fire was reported off Interstate 15, just north of Highway 76, and San Diego County sheriff’s officials issued an evacuation order for nearby areas.
By 3 a.m., Cal Fire San Diego officials said the Pala Fire burned about 30 acres and was 0% contained. The fire had a slow rate of spread.
