Firefighter injured, structures burned as Coyote fire forces evacuations in San Diego County
A brush fire in southeastern San Diego County has burned hundreds of acres, forced evacuations and threatened structures, authorities said Friday.
The fire was first reported at 12:11 p.m. Thursday in the community of Potrero, authorities said.
Dubbed the Coyote fire, the blaze grew from 45 acres overnight to an estimated 466 acres, with only 10% containment as of Friday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Two structures were destroyed and a firefighter was injured.
Firefighters will be working on controlling the perimeter of the fire and extinguishing hot spots throughout the day.
One of two firefighting helicopters involved in a fatal midair collision last week lacked an electronic warning device that alerts pilots to nearby aircraft.
An evacuation order was issued shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday for residents north of Round Potrero Road, east of Horizon View Drive, south of South Boundary Road and west of Potrero Circle. About 78 homes are within the evacuation area, Cornette said. A map of the evacuation area can be found at the county’s Office of Emergency Services website
Round Potrero Road was closed between Yerba Santa Road and Potrero Valley Road. Cal Fire warned that structures along Yerba Santa Road were under the greatest immediate threat.
A temporary evacuation point has been established at Mountain Empire High School in Pine Valley, at 3305 Buckman Springs Road. An animal evacuation area was also opened at the San Diego County Animal Shelter in Bonita, at 5821 Sweetwater Road.
This is a developing story.
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