Features

Fire near Julian burns 5,000 acres; homes evacuated

The Associated Press
Wednesday July 31, 2002

JULIAN — A wildfire burning in the mountains east of San Diego on Tuesday destroyed five homes and forced the evacuation of homes and trailer parks, officials said. 

The fire near Julian had charred more than 5,000 acres of a sparsely populated area, California Department of Forestry spokeswoman Martie Perkins. 

Five homes were destroyed by fire, including three in an area outside Julian where the fire broke out Monday afternoon, Perkins said. There was one report of an injury, but no details. 

San Diego County Sheriff’s officials evacuated homes and trailer parks in Julian, a picturesque former mining town and weekend getaway best known for its apple pies. By mid-afternoon, winds were pushing the flames away from the town, 40 miles east of San Diego. 

Firefighters arrived at the last moment to rescue a dozen or so wolves trapped at the California Wolf Center, a sanctuary for the animals in Julian, said Laura Kelly, a staff volunteer. But Kelly an unknown number of wolves were lost to the fire. 

“Fire did get into the enclosure so we did have loses,” Laura Kelly, a staff volunter. “I don’t know how many.” 

The San Diego Humane Society’s animal rescue team rescued 10 horses, two miniature horses, two llamas and one cow. 

About 1,700 firefighters were battling the Pines Fire, which was about 10 percent contained by Tuesday afternoon. 

Gov. Gray Davis directed the Office of Emergency Services to deploy 95 local government fire engines and a portable satellite communications unit to the scene. 

On Monday night, the fire jumped a rural highway, destroying four outbuildings a barn and prompting an evacuation of a small roadside mobile home park. 

The break was quickly contained by firefighters, said Rick Figueroa of the San Diego County Sheriff’s department. 

About 300 people spent Monday night at a shelter set up at Julian High School, said Sue Irey, a Red Cross spokeswoman. Two additional shelters were open Tuesday. 

Elsewhere in California, firefighters reported that a 2,200-acre fire in the Klamath National Forest was 30 percent contained Tuesday. Three firefighters were killed Sunday en route to the blaze when their fire engine toppled off a mountain road and rolled 1,000 feet. 

— In neighboring Del Norte County, the Sour Biscuit fire, which began in Oregon, has burned 28,700 acres and threatened two high-voltage power lines that supply electricity. 

— A wildfire that has burned 80,000 acres of the Sequoia National Forest was 35 percent contained Tuesday, with no damage to groves containing some of the world’s oldest and largest trees. 

— In the Sierra near Topaz Lake, a wildfire was nearing containment. The 600-acre Silver II fire, located about 90 miles southwest of Reno, was 50 percent surrounded on Tuesday with full containment expected by Thursday.