Firefighters battle growing blaze near U.S. border

A fire burning in the San Diego County desert near the U.S.-Mexico border exploded to more than 500 acres in a matter of hours Thursday evening. But the fire, known as the Border 2 Fire, was miles from any structures or homes, and firefighters said they were making progress in controlling it.

Firefighters were dispatched to the area just before 2 p.m. local time and were trying to slow its spread using tankers and helicopters, said Capt. Robert Johnson of Cal Fire, the state’s fire agency. the state. About 200 firefighters would work through the night, he added.

The fire was burning through the Otay Mountain Wilderness, a remote area with steep and rocky terrain, Capt. Johnson said. That makes it harder to get to the ground, he said, but also provides a much-needed buffer between the flames and populated areas.

Still, officials in Chula Vista, a town about three miles west of the fire, said their fire and police departments were monitoring the blaze as some residents eagerly watched the orange glow and smoke billowing in the distance.

“The Police Department has positioned additional officers at specific locations throughout the city to monitor the situation and be available for immediate assistance if evacuations become necessary,” the city said in a statement, adding that it was not “not intended to be alarmed. “

The column of smoke was clearly visible across the border in Tijuana, Mexico, although the fire was not currently threatening to cross the international line, Cal Fire said. If that changes, Cal Fire says it has a liaison in place with its Mexican counterparts to assist with firefighting efforts.

Officials estimated the closest structures to the fire were in an industrial neighborhood playing on the border called Otay Mesa, about two miles to the southwest — still a safe distance, Captain Johnson said.

Crews were facing winds of about 25 miles per hour blowing from the southwest, according to Cal Fire.