Otay Mountain Fire near US-Mexico border; Evacuation Warnings, Orders Issued – NBC 7 San Diego

On By Littum

What to know: Border 2 Fire

  • Size: 5,389 acres, 10% contained, moderate rate of spread
  • Evacuation centers: Parking lot at Edwards Cinema, 2951 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, 92019 & Southwestern College, 900 Otay Lakes Rd, Chula Vista, CA 91910.
  • Road closures: Alta Road is closed to traffic just south of Otay Mesa Road; Otay Lakes Road closed from Wueste to CA-94 Campo Road
  • School graduations: Chula Vista Elementary School District and Sweetwater Union High School District are closing some schools
  • Advice: A smoke advisory is in effect for Otay Mesa and surrounding areas

A large vegetation fire began burning Thursday afternoon on a hilltop near the U.S.-Mexico border. As night fell, the flames cast an eerie glow over Otay Mountain.

At a little before At 2:30 p.m., Cal Fire San Diego tweeted that the border fire had already burned 20 acres and had a “dangerous rate of spread.” However, firefighters had downgraded the rate of spread to moderate, meaning their efforts were beginning to bear fruit.

Flames from the fire could be seen racing up a hillside on Otay Mountain, near the Otay Mountain Truck Trail.

At 20.30 the fire had spread to 600 hectares with