Latest San Diego County fire update

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Information from June Iljana, a spokeswoman for CAL FIRE:

The Witch fire (Poway) has burned through 196,000 acres and threatens 5,000 homes, 1,500 businesses, 300 outbuildings. So far the destruction tally includes 805 homes, 100 businesses, 50 outbuildings and 375 homes. About 75 businesses and 50 outbuildings have been damaged. There are 1,841 firefighters, 12 of whom have been injured, on the incident, which has cost $2.3 million.

In the Harris fire (southern San Diego County), one person is dead and 32 injured, including seven firefighters. It has burned through 73,000 acres, destroyed about 200 homes and damaged 250. It is 10% contained but currently threatens 1,500 homes in communities including Chula Vista, San Diego, San Miguel, Potrero, Barrett Junction, Barrett Lake, Engineer Springs, Dulzura, Deer Horn Valley, Lawson Valley, Jamul, Lyons Valley, and homes along Millar Ranch Road. About 4,500 people have been evacuated, 1,211 firefighters are assigned here and the fire has cost $2.5 million to fight thus far.

The Poomacha fire (northeastern San Diego County) has burned through 25,000 acres and is not contained; this morning, it had reached Highway 76 in the Pauma Valley. About 2,000 homes are threatened with 50 homes already destroyed. Evacuations were in progress along the Highway 76 corridor as well as in the communities of Valley Center, Rincon, Pauma Valley, Hidden Meadows, Deer Springs, Vista and Palomar, which are all threatened. There have been 10 firefighters injured and about 659 firefighters worked the blaze.

The Ammo fire is burning on Camp Pendleton. It is one of two blazes on the base; the other is the Wilcox fire. The Ammo fire reached 7,500 acres and is 50% contained. It shut down I-5 southbound at Basilone and northbound at Las Polgas due to smoke and downed power lines. [Southbound lanes later reopened.] No info on Wilcox fire yet.

The Rice fire (Temecula) has burned 7,500 acres in Rice Canyon and is about 10% contained. Around 206 homes, two businesses and 40 outbuildings have been destroyed and 1,500 homes are threatened. About 35,000 people have been evacuated from Fallbrook and Deluz canyons. Camp Pendleton and Oceanside are threatened and there has been one firefighter injury. There were 723 firefighters working the blaze.

-- Tami Abdollah