Just as wildfires have swept across San Diego County this week, they've also burned in parts of Tijuana, Ensenada and Northern Baja.
The Central Tijuana Fire Department has been flooded with calls since Monday because of fires. A handful of houses were lost, but no deaths or injuries were reported, said Tijuana Fire Chief Carlos Gopar Uribe.
His department deals with 30 to 40 calls during a typical day, Uribe said, but that number has jumped to about 150 calls a day since Tuesday. All fires in Tijuana were contained as of 4 p.m. Thursday, the chief said.
In the Ensenada area, three fires resulted in the evacuation of more than 6,000 people. In two of the fires on Tuesday and Wednesday in the areas of Cuatro Milpas and Zona Costa, 17 homes were destroyed, fire authorities said.
The largest of the three fires began Tuesday in the community of El Porvenir, east of Ensenada in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja’s wine country.
The fire, which is still burning, threatened the El Cielo, Bibayoff, and Chateau Camou wineries. It was 80 percent contained by Thursday afternoon. Ensenada Fire Chief Javier Nieto said none of the fires was arson.
He said weather conditions in the Ensenada region will improve Friday, making it easier to fully extinguish the fire in El Porvenir. The entire Northern Baja region remains at high risk for fires.
