A fast-moving wildfire erupted several miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border in the San Diego area, blackening thousands of open acres as ground and airborne crews worked Friday to quell the flames amid arid and blustery Santa Ana conditions.
As of 11:40 a.m. Friday, the Border 2 Fire had burned 5,389 acres and was 10% contained, according to CalFire.
CalFire Captain Mike Cornette said the size of the fire is posing challenges to crews.
"We expect to fire to continue to grow. Firefighters are working hard to to get line around it, but it's a lot of open line to get around over 4,000 acres of land," he said. "So this is going to be a multi-day process to suppress this fire."
The wind and rugged terrain is also making it difficult for crews to work, Cornette said.
The blaze broke out for unknown reasons about 2:30 p.m. Thursday in a remote spot near Otay Mountain Truck Trail, about a half-mile west of Doghouse Junction in the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area, according to Cal Fire.
The blaze moved over steep, rugged terrain as firefighters battled it on the ground and aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters, said Cal Fire Capt. Robert Johnson.
Johnson said crews are dealing with "some extreme fire behavior," as blowing embers have started smaller blazes in the area.
The county Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation order for residents in Dulz at Otay Mountain, and a warning for an area just south of the Jamul Indian Village. Go here to see a map of evacuation orders and warning.
The Sheriff's Office posted on social media, "If you feel you are in danger, GO!"
According to the Red Cross, Southwestern College in Chula Vista and the Edwards Theater, 2951 Jamacha Road in El Cajon, are evacuation sites. The Red Cross is also providing snacks, hydration and other assistance, according to a posts on social media.
An overnight shelter for evacuees was opened at Cuyamaca College Gym, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon.
Authorities have closed Otay Lakes Road to traffic, Johnson said.
Within 90 minutes of starting, the burn area had grown to roughly 140 acres, officials reported. As of shortly before 7 p.m., the fire had spread over an estimated 300 acres, according to Cal Fire.
There were no known structural threats or reported injuries, Johnson said.
A smoke advisory is in place for southwestern parts of San Diego County.
"In areas where you smell smoke it is advised that you limit physical/outdoor activity," the advisory from the county's Air Pollution Control District said. "If possible, stay indoors to limit your exposure to fine particulate matter and ozone, especially those residents with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children."
The San Diego County Office of Education on Friday morning announced that due to safety concerns in connection with the Border 2 Fire, these elementary schools would be closed due to poor air quality: Camarena, Eastlake, Liberty, Marshall, Olympic View, Salt Creek and Wolf Canyon.
Other schools also closed Friday are Eastlake High, Eastlake Middle, Olympian High, East Hills Academy (in the Sweetwater Union High School District), High Tech High Chula Vista and Arroyo Vista Charter School.
According to the county office, all other Chula Vista Elementary School District schools "remain open but on rainy day schedule due to poor air quality."
