Border fire in San Diego County is 70% contained, and evacuations are lifted

Reporting from San Diego —  Firefighters continue to gain ground on the Border fire in San Diego County, with the 7,600-acre blaze now 70% contained, authorities said Saturday.

More than 1,700 firefighters are battling the blaze, which at one point extended from Potrero south to the Mexican border and east past the Lake Morena area.

All evacuation orders have been lifted, and sections of only three roads remained closed north of state Route 94 at Harris Ranch Road, Vollmer Road and Martin Road.

An evacuation shelter at Los Coches Creek Middle School on Dunbar Lane, east of Lakeside, was expected to close Friday evening. The Red Cross had operated the shelter since Monday.

However, Cal Fire issued a statement warning that if flames jump the containment lines, Lake Morena Village, Campo and surrounding ranches and recreational areas could be threatened as the fire continues heading north and northeast.

“This is still a dynamic and active fire,” a Cal Fire statement said on Friday. “Residents in the surrounding area of the fire should continue to be prepared to evacuate if need be.”

Motorists in the area were cautioned to drive slowly because of the large number of fire engines — 175 — water tenders and other fire rigs traveling the roads.

Some aircraft that had been assigned to the Border fire this week were transferred to other state wildfires, including one in Kern County that broke out Thursday afternoon. That fire has burned more than 37,000 acres, destroyed about 100 structures and resulted in two deaths. The San Gabriel Complex fire in Los Angeles County, which started Monday, has burned about 5,600 acres.

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