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Public Safety

Hundreds Of Firefighters Battle Wildfire Near Border In Campo

UPDATE: 2:26 P.M., Sept. 1, 2017

A wildfire that broke out Friday morning near the U.S.-Mexico border in southern San Diego County burned about 120 acres before firefighters were able to stop it from spreading.

The fire, dubbed the Border Fire, caused no reported structural damage or injuries, began for unknown reasons near Campo and Marron Valley roads in the Dulzura area shortly before 4:30 a.m., according to Cal Fire.

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About 220 firefighters fought the fire on the ground and from the air.

By early afternoon, firefighters had 15 percent of the fire contained

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

UPDATE: 12:00 p.m., Sept. 1, 2017

A wildfire erupted on a remote hillside just north of the U.S.-Mexico border in southeast San Diego County early Friday, blackening about 120 acres over the morning but causing no reported structural damage or injuries.

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The blaze began spreading for unknown reasons through heavy vegetation near Campo and Marron Valley roads in the Dulzura area shortly before 4:30 a.m., according to Cal Fire.

About 220 personnel battled the flames on the ground and aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters, according to the state agency.

By late morning, the crews had the blaze, dubbed the Border Fire, roughly 15 percent contained.

The cause was under investigation.

UPDATE: 10:30 a.m., Sept. 1, 2017

A brush fire just a few miles north of the Mexican border scorched 100 acres and was steadily growing Friday morning as more than 200 firefighters battled the flames from the ground and air, authorities said.

Fire crews as of 9:15 a.m. Friday had yet to achieve any containment on the blaze, dubbed the Border Fire, which started about 4:20 a.m. south of Dulzura near Campo and Maron Valley roads, Cal Fire San Diego tweeted. The blaze blackened 20 acres of brush in the first hour and another 20 acres by 6:20 a.m. before slowing some, burning just 10 acres over the next two hours to stand at 50 total acres around 8 a.m.

But by 9:15 a.m., the fire doubled in size to 100 acres, the agency said. It was spreading at a moderate rate and there was heavy fuel in the area.

At least 220 firefighters have been assigned to the fire, with five helicopters and four fixed-wing aircraft battling the flames from the sky, Cal Fire said. On the ground, 20 engines, 10 hand crews, seven water tenders and three bulldozers were fighting the blaze.

UPDATE: 9:20 a.m., Sept. 1, 2017

A brush fire that started Friday morning just a few miles north of the Mexican border scorched about 40 acres in two hours as Cal Fire San Diego crews battled the flames, authorities said.

The blaze, dubbed the Border Fire, started about 4:20 a.m. Friday south of Dulzura near Campo and Maron Valley roads, Cal Fire tweeted. The blaze blackened 20 acres of brush in the first hour. The fire went up to 110 acres by 9 a.m.

With 110 total acres burned, firefighters had yet to achieve any containment, the agency said. The fire was spreading at a moderate rate and there was heavy fuel in the area.

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