Editor's note: This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
Crews working to contain the smoldering remnants of a wildfire that blackened hundreds of acres, leveled two structures and forced evacuations of scores of backcountry homes in the far southern reaches of San Diego County this week had the burn zone roughly 10% contained today.
The fast-moving blaze erupted for unknown reasons about noon Thursday amid heavy winds off Coyote Holler Road in Potrero, approximately five miles north of Tecate, according to Cal Fire.
As of late Friday morning, the fire had spread over an estimated 466 acres and destroyed a home and an outbuilding, said Mike Cornette, a fire captain with the state agency. By then, only scattered spots in the footprint of the conflagration were still actively burning, he said.
The only reported injury from the blaze was a minor case of heat- related trauma suffered by a firefighter.
Soon after the fire broke out, it was spreading perilously close to homes along Horizon View Drive, Round Potrero Road and Yerba Santa Road as ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters fought the flames, Cal Fire reported.
In all, the blaze was an immediate threat to about 80 homes, Cornette said. Along with the dwellings in the direct path of the flames, officials evacuated Potrero Elementary School.
A temporary shelter was established for the displaced residents at Mountain Empire High School on Buckman Springs Road in Pine Valley, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department advised. Those with livestock and other animals in need of a safe haven were directed to take them to the San Diego County South Shelter on Sweetwater Road in Bonita.
All schools in the Mountain Empire Unified School District were closed for the day Friday due to the fire, the San Diego County Office of Education advised.
The cause of the blaze was under investigation, Cornette said.
