SAN DIEGO (CNS) - An evacuation order was in effect Tuesday for Otay Mountain-area neighborhoods as crews worked to contain the smoldering remnants of a wildfire that scorched about 10 square miles of remote terrain in the far southern reaches of the San Diego area over the last five days.
Firefighters had the footprint of the 6,625-acre blaze 88% surrounded as of Tuesday evening, according to Cal Fire.
"Minimal smoldering and fire behavior were observed overnight, and high humidity is keeping fire potential low," the agency stated. "No fire spread is anticipated. Ground crews will continue to work in steep terrain as they focus on mopping up and patrolling existing fire lines."
#Border2Fire [update] The fire remains 6,625 acres and is now 74% contained. pic.twitter.com/1jxliRIzfK
— CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) January 28, 2025
Still prohibited from returning to their homes due to the conflagration -- which has caused no reported structural damage or injuries -- were residents of areas east and south of Otay Lakes Road; south and west of Campo Road; along Otay Mountain Truck Trail; and north of the southern edges of the burn zone a few miles from the U.S.-Mexico border.
Due to the ongoing firefighting operations, Otay Lakes Road remained closed to through traffic between state Route 94 and Wueste Road on Tuesday.
You can find the live map with evacuation orders here.
A weekend rainstorm prompted an optimistic assessment from Cal Fire, which stated that the long-awaited precipitation "should mitigate fire activity, helping fire crews to continue strengthening containment lines."
"Firefighters have made great progress slowing the spread of the fire," the agency asserted over the weekend. "(Bulldozers), hand crews and engine companies are working on the ground to contain the fire, while helicopters are dropping water on hot spots on the interior of the fire perimeter."
#UPDATE Due to improved containment of the #Border2Fire, @SDSheriff has updated the EVACUATION ORDER. Please refer to the maps below to see the latest changes.
— San Diego Sheriff (@SDSheriff) January 27, 2025
To see maps of the affected areas, visit: https://t.co/KRXry2OWyB and https://t.co/KzyiFwFKJL.
The red areas remain… pic.twitter.com/mfgBsGhMPm
The blaze -- which erupted just west of Doghouse Junction in the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area on Thursday afternoon -- threatened thousands of back-country structures but has caused no reported structural damage or injuries. The fire's cause remains under investigation.
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