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Public Safety

Cowboy Fire Burns 700 Acres Near Campo

Firefighters continued making progress today in their battle against a large brush fire near Campo, with full containment anticipated by Sunday.

The blaze -- dubbed the Cowboy Fire -- was 42 percent contained by noon, and no structures have been damaged, said Roxanne Provaznik of Cal Fire.

Flames consumed 719 acres, a total that had not grown since earlier this morning, but Provaznik said there is an "island" of unburned fuel within the fire area.

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The Cowboy Fire began around 1 p.m. Thursday near the Pacific Crest Trail in the back country, creating a massive plume of smoke visible throughout the East County.

It spread toward the edge of Star Ranch, a working horse and cattle ranch and historic attraction, where Cal Fire deployed a team of firefighters to protect structures, Provaznik said.

More than 1,300 firefighters were assigned to the blaze, she said.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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