Los Coches Fire Halted In San Diego's East County

LAKESIDE, CA — Evacuations were lifted after a brush broke out along Interstate 8 near the Lake Jennings area in Lakeside that was stopped at 5.3 acres on late Monday with 100% containment, Cal Fire reported.

The Coches Fire broke out shortly before 3 p.m. Monday off the 13300 block of Los Coches Road East in the Glenview area, just north of El Cajon, according to Cal Fire.

As ground personnel and crews aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters worked to extinguish the fire, authorities cleared people out of an area bounded by Interstate 8 to the south and west, Los Coches Road to the east and Business Route 8 to the north. A temporary shelter for the displaced was in operation at Viejas Casino in nearby Alpine.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, firefighters had halted the spread of the blaze at roughly 5 1/2 acres, said Mike Cornette, a fire captain with the state agency. It was 75% contained as of 9 p.m. and fully contained by 10:30 p.m. Monday, Cal Fire/San Diego announced.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department announced on X that all evacuation orders had been lifted before midnight.

One person suffered smoke inhalation and another burns in the fire, which destroyed six homes.

"We would like to thank all of our cooperating agencies who collaborated on this fire today, it is truly a team effort," Cal Fire/San Diego stated via X.

The Lakeside Community Center at 9841 Vine St. is being used an overnight shelter.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.