Firefighters made progress through the night and helped contain 90% of the Lilac Fire in San Diego Wednesday.
A wind-driven wildfire charred dozens of acres in the sparsely developed northeastern reaches of San Diego County, damaging structures and forcing pre-dawn evacuations before crews could gain the upper hand on the flames Wednesday.
The non-injury blaze — one of two to erupt amid gusty Santa Ana conditions about 5 miles apart over a span of less than an hour — began spreading shortly after 12:30 a.m. Tuesday off Lilac Road, near Old Highway 395, according to Cal Fire.
Four structures in the area sustained minor damages, Johnson said, adding it unclear if anyone was living in them.
The Sheriff's Office said that Old Highway 395 will remain closed between Dulin Road, at the Rancho Monserate Country Club, and West Lilac Road.
West Lilac Road between Old Highway 395 and Bonsall Elementary School will remain closed, "except for residents with proper identification," sheriff's officials added.
Shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office announced in a news release that it had lifted all evacuation orders and warnings, "due to improved containment."
Law enforcement reminded the public to drive carefully, as firefighters continue to reduce hazards and strengthen control lines. "Dust and noise will be present throughout the day and night," the Sheriff's Office said. "Smoke may be seen from areas where the fire is still burning, but there is no threat to the public."
Sheriff's deputies earlier cleared people out of nearby rural neighborhoods as ground crews and personnel aboard a pair of water-dropping Black Hawk firefighting helicopters battled the flames.
Air tankers, which are not cleared for nighttime flying locally, were put on standby for possible activation at daybreak. By dawn, however, firefighters had made enough progress to make deployment of the planes unnecessary, Cal Fire Capt. Robert Johnson said.
Crews had the spread of the blaze, dubbed the Lilac Fire, halted at about 85 acres by shortly after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Johnson said.
As of early afternoon, the smoldering burn area was roughly 30% contained, according to Cal Fire.
The blaze started about 45 minutes after another one to the south, in an open area just west of Interstate 15, near Canonita Drive in Pala Mesa. That blaze — along with a third fire that burned less than an acre in the Fallbrook area after breaking out at about 1:20 a.m. — caused no reported structural damage or injuries.
The causes of the fires were under investigation.
