Update: Wildfire Near Campo 90 Percent Contained at 995 Acres

Update 7:50 p.m. Tuesday: The fire is now 995 acres and 90 percent contained.

Original story.

A wildfire that has blackened 907 acres, destroyed a home and threatened scores of others in the southeastern reaches of San Diego County is 75 percent contained Tuesday, with full containment expected Tuesday night and full control by 6 p.m. Wednesday, according to Cal Fire.

But about 200 rural residences remained threatened by the so-called Old Fire, which erupted for unknown reasons near Old Highway 80 and Miller Valley Road in the Campo area Sunday afternoon.

Nearly 1,000 firefighters were assigned to fight the fire, backed up by bulldozers, water trucks, four air tankers, four helicopters and more than five dozen engines. A sheriff's emergency-services helicopter also had been making water drops.

The cost of the fire suppression was estimated at $1.15 million as of Tuesday morning, Cal Fire reported.

Firefighters were facing challenging conditions—strong winds, high heat, low humidity. A National Weather Service red flag warning indicating critical wildfire conditions is scheduled to be in effect in East County mountains and deserts until 11 p.m.

The Old Fire destroyed a residence and a recreational vehicle while spreading over the backcountry east of Pine Valley, and a firefighter suffered minor heat exhaustion while working the lines, Cal Fire Capt. Mike Mohler said.

The Sheriff's Department used a reverse 911 system Sunday to clear people out of threatened homes. After daybreak Monday, additional evacuation orders were issued for residents of Boulevard and Live Oak Springs.

About 200 residences were evacuated along Old Highway 80 and on Church Road, according to Cal Fire.

Eastbound state Route 94 was closed at Church Road, along with a stretch of Old Highway 80 from Crestwood Road to Live Oak Springs.

Jacumba and Clover Flat elementary schools were closed Monday as a precaution, according to the Mountain Empire Unified School District. An evacuation center and command post were in operation at Golden Acorn Casino.

-- City News Service and Julie Pendray contributed to this report