Wildfire burns over 4,200 acres near Tecate

More than 300 firefighters Thursday continue to work a wildfire northwest of Tecate that blackened 4,243 acres, threatening back-country homes, leveling at least one structure, prompting road closures and forcing evacuations.

The Border 32 fire erupted for unknown reasons about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday off Barrett Lake Road, near state Route 94 in the Barrett Junction area, roughly three miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, according to Cal Fire. As of 8:30 a.m., the fire was 5% contained.

Officials said that weather will be a challenge in efforts to battle the blaze as San Diego County Sheriff’s helicopters and Cal Fire air resources make water drops.

The flames had blackened an estimated 1,400 acres within about 2 1/2 hours of the initial reports, according to Cal Fire. By 5 p.m. Wednesday, one structure of undetermined type was known to have been destroyed by the fire.

As ground and airborne crews worked to subdue the fast-moving blaze, deputies evacuated residents in the areas of Barrett Smith and Round Potrero roads, and emergency crews shut down the stretch of state Route 94 between Forrest Gate Road in Campo and Otay Lakes Road in Dulzura, according to the sheriff’s deputies. A smoke advisory is in effect for Dulzura.

At least 400 homes were under evacuation orders, and the blaze grew to about 1,600 acres by 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Cal Fire reported. Nearly 600 people were ordered to evacuate, and nearly 800 others were issued evacuation warnings, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Schools in the Mountain Empire Unified and Jamul-Dulzura Union school districts will be closed Thursday, the San Diego County Office of Education announced.

The Tecate Port of Entry was closed due to the fire, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported.

Temporary shelters for the displaced were operating at the Jamul Casino and Mountain Empire High School in Pine Valley.

Those evacuating large animals were directed by the American Red Cross to go to the San Diego County Department of Animal Services at 5821 Sweetwater Road in Bonita. The San Diego Humane Society is helping with small animal and pet evacuations at Mountain Empire High School at 3305 Buckman Springs Road in Pine Valley.

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