As bone-dry, gusty weather returned to southern California, fire crews quickly stopped the forward progress of two fires burning near Interstate 15 early Tuesday morning.
Firefighters were on the scene of a wildfire that broke out in Pala early Tuesday morning, with at least 17 acres torched and containment at 0%.
The fire was reported at around 2:15 a.m. Tuesday west of Interstate 15 near Pala Mesa in a rural part of San Diego County, according to Cal Fire.
Fire officials said that “forward progress has been reported as stopped. Numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the state are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow.”
Evacuations have been lifted, officials said. The circumstances surrounding the fire were not immediately clear.
There were 81 personnel assigned to the fire, including 19 engines, three hand crews and two dozers, officials said.
Slightly northwest of the Lilac Fire in , the spread of the Riverview Fire was stopped at just one acre overnight.
#RiverviewFire – Santa Margarita Drive in Fallbrook, Forward Rate of Spread has been stopped at approximately one acre. We are working closely with our cooperators and public safety partners as conditions change. Please follow EVACUATION notifications and stay prepared.
— CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) January 21, 2025
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued a red flag warning until Tuesday night for San Diego County’s inland valleys and mountainous areas as Santa Ana winds pick back up.
“Widespread wind gusts of 35-55 mph will occur across the coastal slopes of the mountains and into the adjacent valleys, with local gusts over 80 mph in the favored passes, canyons, and coastal slopes,” the San Diego NWS said.
The Santa Ana winds are expected to weaken by Friday.
City News Service contributed to this report.
