Crews Works To Contain Wildfire In Lakeside

LAKESIDE, CA — Crews continued working Friday to contain a wildfire that has blackened hundreds of acres and forced evacuations in eastern San Diego County.

The blaze, called the Monte Fire, sparked shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday in the 15000 block of El Monte Road, just east of El Monte County Park in Lakeside, according to Cal Fire. As of 9 a.m. Friday, the fire has burned 1,049 acres and was 35% contained.

"Firefighters continue to make progress and containment is now 35%. The most active area of the fire is the east side," Cal Fire said in a Friday morning update. "Fire crews are concentrating on building and improving containment lines, accomplishing the greatest progress on the south and west sides of the fire perimeter. The north and east sides of the fire continue to be areas of focus for fire line construction."

Crews fought the flames on the ground and aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters. A total of 720 firefighting personnel were assigned to the blaze Friday, including 48 engines, 28 crews, five helicopters, three water tenders and two dozers, according to Cal Fire.

"The fire continues to burn in challenging steep and rocky terrain. Helicopters will remain engaged today conducting water dropping operations on hot spots within the fire perimeter," Cal Fire said. "Yesterday fire crews were flown into difficult to access areas. These crews have begun constructing containment lines on the north and northeast sides and have made good progress. The crews inserted into these remote areas are expected to remain there for multiple days. Additionally, helicopters will be transporting supplies to firefighters working in remote areas."

The fire sparked amid high temperatures in parts of the region.

As the flames spread to the east over rugged terrain below El Cajon Mountain, authorities cleared residents out of rural neighborhoods north of El Monte Road, east of Hazy Meadow Lane, south of Featherstone Canyon Road and northwest of El Capitan Reservoir.

Evacuation orders and warnings remained in effect. However, there were no structures threatened.

Evacuation orders were in effect for the following zones: SDC-1467, SDC-1515, SDC-1516 and SDC-1551-C. Evacuation warnings were in effect for the following zones: SDC-1468, SDC-1469, SDC-1470 and SDC-1517. View an interactive map here.

A temporary shelter was in operation at Walmart Supercenter at 13487 Camino Canada in El Cajon.

The county's South Shelter at 5821 Sweetwater Road in Bonita was accepting small pets. Large animals can be evacuated to Dianne Jacob Lakeside Equestrian Park at 11055 Moreno Ave. in Lakeside.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

City News Service contributed to this report.