Editor’s note: This file captures the news of the California wildfires from Tuesday, Jan. 21. For the latest updates on the LA and San Diego fires, follow USA TODAY’s coverage for Wednesday, Jan. 22.
SAN DIEGO — Multiple wildfires broke out in San Diego County on Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders, school closures and power shutoffs, while officials in Los Angeles remained on high alert amid strong winds and relentlessly dry conditions.
Crews responded to three small brush fires overnight in northern San Diego County. The Lilac Fire, the largest of the blazes, grew to 85 acres and triggered evacuations in Bonsall, a small community about 45 minutes north of San Diego. The fire has displaced 86 residents and damaged two structures, officials said.
The Lilac Fire was 50% contained by 6 p.m. PST, according to local authorities and Cal Fire. Earlier Tuesday, the North County Fire Protection District said more than 200 firefighters were assigned to the incident.
The Pala Fire, north of the community of Pala Mesa, burned 17 acres of land and initially triggered evacuation orders that have since been lifted, officials said. Firefighters managed to stop the forward progress of the blaze, which was fully contained in the afternoon.
Another blaze, dubbed the Riverview Fire, burned only one acre of land before firefighters contained it. A fourth blaze — called the Friars Fire — erupted at around noon Tuesday near homes and businesses in the neighborhood of Mission Valley, about five miles north of downtown San Diego.
San Diego Fire-Rescue said in an update that the fire had burned between 15 to 20 acres and was “confined,” adding that fire crews will continue to “mop up of hot spots” into the night. Evacuation orders and warnings in the area were also lifted.
The origins of the blazes remain unknown.
The fires erupted as hurricane-force winds blew across Southern California through the night and early morning, according to preliminary reports from the National Weather Service. A 102-mph wind gust was recorded in the San Diego mountains around 10 p.m. Monday.
As of Tuesday, afternoon, more than 64,000 homes and businesses were without power across the Ventura, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside counties, according to PowerOutage.us.
In Los Angeles County, firefighters made progress against two deadly wildfires that destroyed over 15,000 structures and killed at least 28 people. The region remained under red flag warnings, worrying officials that the Palisades and Eaton fires may spread or additional blazes could ignite.
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Firefighters make gains on Lilac Fire in San Diego County
Authorities in San Diego County have gained a foothold in the battle against the Lilac Fire that triggered a flurry of evacuations, power outages, and school closures on Tuesday.
“Fire crew will continue to build containment lines and extinguish hotspots within the fire’s perimeter,” Cal Fire said in an update Tuesday afternoon. Officials said by around 10 a.m. its forward rate of spread had been stopped.
In an update Tuesday night, San Diego County Sheriff’s Office that all evacuations had been lifted but some roadways remained closed as crews continued “to work in the area to mitigate the hazards and strengthen control lines.”
“Dust and noise will be present throughout the day and night,” the sheriff’s office added. “Smoke may be seen from areas where the fire is still burning, but there is no threat to the public.”
San Diego County school closures amid wildfires
Multiple school districts closed on Tuesday citing “high winds, fire danger, and power outages.” Below is a list of the school districts that have shuttered, according to the San Diego County Office of Education.
- Bonsall Unified School District
- Julian Union Elementary School District
- Julian Union High School District
- Mountain Empire Unified School District
- Spencer Valley School District
- Warner Unified School District
The county office of education later noted that Warner Unified School District and Mountain Empire Unified School District will remain closed on Wednesday due to power outages.
Mt. Woodson Elementary in Ramona Unified School District, Lakeside Farms Elementary, and DREAM Academy in Lakeside Union School District were also closed on Tuesday, the county office of education said. Those schools are located east of San Diego.
Due to the Friars Fire, the county office of education’s main campus and the Linda Vista Innovation Center closed on Tuesday but will reopen for “regular business” on Wednesday.
Red flag warnings active across Southern California as blazes rage
Red flag warnings stretched down the coast of Southern California on Tuesday as weather officials warned of strong wind gusts that could rapidly spread fires and knock out power to homes and businesses. The dangerous fire weather is expected to linger until at least midweek because of the winds and low humidity, the weather service said.
Forecasters said Santa Ana winds would continue blowing across Los Angeles and Ventura counties through Tuesday afternoon. The warnings urged residents to stay vigilant amid the strong winds and as humidity levels plummet to single digits.
In San Diego County, forecasters warned of winds of 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 70 mph. In the mountains, winds could reach 80 to 90 mph, the weather service added.
“If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior,” a red flag warning from the weather service in San Diego said.
Later Tuesday, the weather service extended its red flag warning for Los Angeles, Ventura, and San Diego counties through Thursday. The weather service in Los Angeles warned that an increase in winds is expected Thursday morning.
Brush fire ignites in riverbed in Riverside County
Firefighters are battling a brush fire that erupted in a riverbed near homes in Jurupa Valley. The Clay Fire started at around 5 p.m. Tuesday, according to Cal Fire.
By 8:30 p.m., the blaze grew to nearly 40 acres and evacuation warnings were issued for nearby neighborhoods, Cal Fire said. Crews were on the ground working on containment lines while a night-flying helicopter was dropping water on hot spots, according to Cal Fire.
“Firefighters are on-scene of vegetation burning in the river bottom,” Cal Fire said in its latest incident report. “The fuel is heavy and dense, and the fire is burning at a slow rate of spread.”
Latest on the Palisades and Eaton fires
The Palisades Fire was at 23,713 acres with 65% containment Tuesday evening, according to Cal Fire. The Eaton Fire had burned 14,021 acres and was at 89% containment.
“Firefighters are making steady progress, and officials are reassessing evacuation orders to ensure safe returns,” read a Tuesday report on the Palisades Fire. “Crews are working with utility providers to repair infrastructure and address hazards like fallen trees and downed power lines. The public is reminded to stay vigilant on current fire conditions.”
Cal Fire said firefighters were focusing on hot spots within the perimeter of the Eaton Fire as officials lifted evacuation orders in phases.
Additionally, resources were staged in the city of La Cañada, west of the blaze, “to respond to any new fire starts or fire activity within the current footprint,” according to an operational update from Cal Fire.
At least 28 people have been killed in the greater Los Angeles area fires, Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in an update Tuesday afternoon. At least 17 people died in the Eaton Fire while another 11 died in the Palisades Fire.
On Monday, Los Angeles fire crews quickly extinguished a small brush fire near Griffith Observatory. The Los Angeles Police Department said it took into custody a man suspected of causing the fire.
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Altadena residents impacted by Eaton Fire allowed to go back home
All residents in Altadena are now being allowed to return to their homes while firefighters make progress with the Eaton Fire. Cal Fire said firefighters continue to extinguish hot spots within the perimeter of the blaze.
While residents can return to their homes, some areas in the unincorporated community north of Pasadena are opened only to people with proof of residence such as a driver’s license or a utility bill with their address, Los Angeles County said in a post on X.
Curfews remain in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Cal Fire said.
How powerful are the winds in Southern California?
Here are the highest wind gusts recorded across Southern California through Tuesday afternoon, according to preliminary reports from the National Weather Service.
- Sill Hill, San Diego County – 102 mph
- Hauser Mountain, San Diego County — 88 mph
- Banning, Riverside County – 83 mph
- Keen Ridge, Riverside County – 81 mph
- Chino Hills, Orange County – 71 mph
- California State University, San Bernardino – 60 mph
(This story has been updated to add information.)
Contributing: Dave Mason, Ventura County Star
Wildfires Break Out Near San Diego, Triggering Evacuation Orders
Residents near San Diego are being urged to evacuate as wildfires break out in the area. The fires have spread rapidly, fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, prompting officials to issue evacuation orders for several communities.
Firefighters are working tirelessly to contain the flames, but the unpredictable nature of wildfires makes it a challenging task. Emergency responders are urging residents to heed evacuation orders and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety.
The wildfires serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of wildfires in California, especially during the hot and dry summer months. It is crucial for residents to stay informed, follow evacuation orders, and have a plan in place in case of emergencies.
Our thoughts are with the residents and firefighters affected by the wildfires near San Diego. Stay safe and stay informed.
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