Public Safety

Cause of Willow Fire Determined

By Katie Orr / Anchor

Published May 29, 2009 at 11:39 AM PDT

This story was published more than 15 years ago.

Cause of Willow Fire Determined

CAL FIRE investigators say last week’s Willow Fire near Jamul was started while Bureau of Prison employees were training at a shooting range.

CAL FIRE investigators say last week’s Willow Fire near Jamul was started while Bureau of Prison employees were training at a shooting range.

Investigators don’t yet know exactly what happened at the shooting range that started the fire. CAL FIRE Captain Nick Schuler says it was fast moving and heading toward a housing development.

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“The fire burned 65 acres, fortunately because of the fast response of firefighters, they were able to stop that fire at 65 acres,” he says.

About 300 firefighters responded to the blaze. One was hurt. But Schuler says he’s back at work. Several people living in the area were evacuated while the fire was contained. Schuler says homeowners need to clear brush from around their houses and make sure there’s a water source nearby to help protect them during fire season.

Public Safety

Katie Orr

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Having grown up in the San Diego neighborhood of University City, Katie Orr is back in familiar territory as KPBS’ Metro Reporter. She previously worked at WVXU in Cincinnati, Ohio where she served as a reporter and announcer, as well as host of the award winning Cincinnati Edition. She has also reported for WNIN in Evansville, Indiana and for Four Corners Broadcasting in Durango, Colorado. Katie has been recognized by the Indiana and Ohio chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists for her work as well as by the Hearst Journalism Awards and the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence Awards. Katie graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University in 2003.

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