SAN DIEGO — Name: #Border32Fire
Acreage burned: 4,456
Structures lost: 4
Containment: 100%
Fire start time: Wednesday, August 31 at about 2:30 p.m.
Fire cause: Unknown
Agencies responding: Multiple agencies, including CAL FIRE San Diego
Road/border closures:
Starting at 1:45 p.m. Friday, State Route 94 will be reopened in both directions.
- Westbound SR-94 at Forest Gate soft closure in place, residents allowed
- Eastbound SR-94 at Otay Lakes Road soft closure in place, residents allowed
- Eastbound and Westbound SR-94 between Barret Junction and Potrero Valley road remain closed. No Access.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Due to conditions from the Border 32 Fire, the Tecate port of entry will remain closed and will not re-open Friday at 6 a.m., the usual opening time for the border crossing.
A spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement:
Travelers can continue to use both the Otay Mesa and San Ysidro ports of entry to cross both northbound into the U.S. and southbound into Mexico.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials will continue to work with local fire officials to monitor conditions that will allow for a re-opening that is safe for the traveling public, CBP personnel, and emergency services personnel, and will provide updates on re-opening when they are available.
Limited repopulation order:
According to the San Diego Sheriff's Department
Starting at 6:30 p.m., residents in the following areas will be allowed to return to their homes:
- West of Cochera Via Drive
- East of Potrero Valley Road
Residents returning to Potrero must enter from eastbound State Route 94. Those returning to Dulzura must enter from westbound State Route 94.
Evacuation orders:
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department, Cal Fire, CAL FIRE San Diego and the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services, are lifting all evacuation orders and road closures related to the Border 32 Fire.
Starting at 1:45 p.m. Friday all residents will be allowed to return to their homes.
- The area east of Round Potrero Road in Potrero
- Near SR-94 and Barrett Smith Road
- Over 400 residential units are affected by evacuations
Temporary evacuation points:
- Jamul Casino - 14145 Campo Road, Jamul
- Camp Lockett Event & Equestrian Facility at 799 Forrest Gate Rd, Campo (Camp Lockett is accepting large animals)
- Mountain Empire High School at 3305 Buckman Springs Road, Pine Valley
- American Red Cross has established a shelter at Mountain Empire High School (3305 Buckman Springs Rd, Pine Valley)
Power outages:
More than 400 customers in the area near the Border 32 Fire are without power. SDG&E reported the outage at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug 31 and says the fire damaged the electric system.
School Closures:
The San Diego County Office of Education released the following on Thursday:
Due to Border 32 Fire, schools in the Mountain Empire Unified and Jamul-Dulzura Union school districts will remain closed on Friday, Sept. 2.
"The fire situation continues to evolve; we will share additional updates as they are available. Follow @SanDiegoCOE on Twitter for real-time updates.
All San Diego County schools have established a fire protection and evacuation plan and work regularly with public safety agencies to coordinate preparedness efforts to protect life, property, and critical infrastructure. For information on how schools prepare for and respond to wildfires, view the San Diego County Office of Education’s Wildfire Preparedness Resource Guide." said the San Diego County Office of Education in a press release Wednesday.
A wildfire northeast of Tecate, dubbed the #Border32Fire, in the far southern reaches of San Diego County has burned 4,243 acres and is 5% contained, destroyed at least four structures, and prompted evacuations and road closures, according to Cal Fire.
For an interactive map with updated emergency information, click here.
According to Cal Fire, the fire continues to threaten the communities of Barrett, Potrero, and Tecate. Multiple agencies remain on scene fighting fire and protecting structures throughout the night.
Pets can be taken to San Diego County Animal Shelter located at 5821 Sweetwater Road in Bonita.
The blaze erupted for unknown reasons at about 2:30 p.m. off Barrett Lake Road, near state Route 94 in the Barrett Junction area, roughly three miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Cal Fire.
Within about 2 1/2 hours, the flames had blackened an estimated 1,600 acres, Cal Fire reported. By then, one structure of undetermined type was known to have been destroyed by the fire.
As ground and airborne crews worked to subdue the fast-moving blaze, deputies evacuated residents in the areas of Barrett Smith and Round Potrero roads, and emergency crews shut down a stretch of state Route 94 between Forrest Gate Road in Campo and Otay Lakes Road in Dulzura, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
The Tecate Port of Entry also closed due to the fire, the department reported.
Temporary shelters for the displaced were operating at Jamul Casino and Mountain Empire High School in Pine Valley.
Those with household pets were urged to take them to the San Diego County Animal Services South Shelter in Bonita.
WATCH RELATED: Mountain Empire High School used as temporary shelter for Border 32 Fire evacuees
