SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Fire crews worked quickly to extinguish the flames of a vegetation fire burning near the Granite Hills neighborhood. The fire was first reported around 12 p.m. on Friday near Lotus Lane and La Cresta Road, south of I-8, just east of the city of El Cajon where white smoke could be seen from miles away.
Ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and helicopters fought the flames, making airdrops of both retardant and water, which spread to within roughly 400 feet of homes, said Neil Czapinski, a fire captain with the state agency.
Just before 1 p.m., the blaze appeared to be holding within a perimeter of fire retardant dropped by the fixed-wing aircraft, Czapinski said.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation in the late afternoon. Crews expected to remain in the area checking for hot spots until about 6 p.m., Czapinski said.
All road closures have been reopened as of 4:30 p.m.
Many concerned people posted photos and videos on social media of the smoke and flames.
Wildfire season is here in San Diego and the heat and winds are only helping to fuel the concern for wildfires.
Earilier the week, the destructive Coastal Fire scorched 200 acres in Orange County and destroyed or damaged more than two dozen homes in a relentless wind.
The fire began as a 50-foot-by-50-foot spot fire Wednesday afternoon. Within 45 minutes, it covered about 3 acres, then quickly grew to 30 acres, then 150, then 200 by Wednesday evening.
The flames spread quickly as they tore through thick brush on the hillside, aided by ocean winds that sparked spot fires ahead of the main blaze. The fire pushed its way uphill, advancing on Aliso Summit Trail and into the neighboring multimillion-dollar estates.