Daily Dose: Four Fires and a Dip in the Heat

Events

• (Wednesday)

Four Fires in Rural East County

More than 560 firefighters are battling four separate lightning-sparked blazes near Julian today.

The Vallecito Fire, the Wilson Fire, the Stewart Fire and the Cooper Fire have scorched a combined 1,002 acres of rural East County since Sunday night, according to Cal Fire.

The Vallecito Fire is burning southeast of Julian, while the three other fires were all burning northeast of the small tourist town. As of early today, no structures were threatened, the state firefighting agency reported.

The Wilson Fire has burned the most brush -- 1,400 acres -- while the Vallecito Fire has scorched 350, the Stewart Fire 600 and the Cooper Fire, two acres, Cal Fire reported.

The Cooper Fire was fully contained early today, while the Vallecito was 30 percent contained, the Wilson Fire was 5 percent and the Stewart Fire was zero percent contained, according to Cal Fire, which dubbed the fires the Vallecito Lightning Complex.

"Firefighters continue to make progress, though there is still a considerable amount of open fire line," said Cal Fire Capt. Mike Mohler. "Extreme terrain and distance from roads are making access to fires difficult for ground resources."

Though no structures were threatened, Mohler said there was a threat to a 69-kilovolt transmission line in Grapevine Canyon that serves the communities of Borrego Springs, Warner Springs and Ranchita.

In addition to 565 fire personnel, 27 fire engines, 22 fire crews, two bulldozers, four helicopters and three airtankers were assigned to fight the Vallecito Lightning Complex.

All four fires were sparked by lightning, Cal Fire reported.

Brush Fire Party Line Facebook Page

A new Facebook page focused on brush fires in East County San Diego is gaining followers quickly with folks looking for information about the four fires near Julian. Check it out here: www.facebook.com/pages/Brush-Fire-Partyline-San-Diego-East-County

Lost in Combat

The Pentagon has released the name of three Camp Pendleton-based Marines who died in combat last week in Afghanistan.   

Killed in Helmand Province on Friday were Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke, 31,
of Herndon, Va.; Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian, 29, of Los Altos Hills; and
Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote, 27, of El Dorado, according to the Department of
Defense.

NWS Weather Forecast- Slight Dip in Heat

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 93.
Tuesday Night: Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Wednesday: Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Wednesday Night: Patchy fog after 11pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
Thursday: Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Thursday Night: Patchy fog after 11pm.
Friday: Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

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