Burning of Leaves Blamed in 6-Day Palomar Mountain Fire

Fire officials said Thursday that a man burning avocado leaves over the weekend accidentally triggered a mammoth Palomar Mountain fire that has burned out of control for six days and seared almost 14,000 acres of brush and timberland.

California Department of Forestry spokesman Charles Smith said that the unidentified man obtained a burn permit Saturday from the CDF fire station at Rincon, a small community on the southwest slope of the mountain, to burn leaves from an avocado grove. He apparently abided by all burning regulations.

However, he underestimated the 104-degree temperature that baked San Diego County that day and the hot Santa Ana winds that fanned the heat as they blew in from Nevada, Smith added.

The cost of fighting the fire over the last six days has been estimated at $1.5 million by the forestry department and U.S. Forest Service officials. Officials say the cost may total more than $2.5 million before the blaze is controlled.

CDF officials declined to release the permit holder’s identity. CDF information officer Anton Provaznik said that the owner of the avocado grove is liable for the cost of fighting the fire. It was not clear whether the permit holder and the owner are the same person.

Provaznik said that if the landowner cannot afford to pay all of the costs, the law requires him “to pay to the best of his ability.”

On Thursday, officials declared the fire 60% contained. A total of 2,194 firefighters, including crews from 20 states, are battling the blaze.

Meanwhile, a Ventura County fire that broke out last weekend in a mountainous area 15 miles north of Ojai was fully contained Thursday, said John Boggs, spokesman for the Ojai Ranger District. However, Boggs warned that “a wind could pick it up again.” The fire burned about 4,000 acres of brush and pine trees.