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Updated June 18 @ 4:00 p.m.
The East County mountains and deserts were put on alert for extreme wildfire hazards today, reflecting conditions likely to increase challenges faced by air and ground crews battling a 900-acre blaze in the Campo area.
A "red flag" warning went into effect at noon and was slated to run through 11 p.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS issues the notification when strong air currents, low humidity and warm temperatures combine to create critical fire potential.
Today's blustery conditions stem from an eastward-moving low-pressure system, according to meteorologists.
Over the period, winds will blow through eastern San Diego County at 20- 30 mph, possibly gusting up to 60 mph, the NWS reported. The lowest daytime humidity levels will drop to as low as 5 percent, the agency advised.
The so-called Old Fire, which erupted about 2 p.m. Sunday off Old Highway 80 and Miller Valley Road, destroyed a home and an outbuilding and forced hundreds of residential evacuations while spreading over back-country terrain east of Pine Valley.
As of early this afternoon, crews had the burn area roughly 30 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
-City News Service
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