San Diego County fire burns 7,055 acres, destroys 120 structures
A brush fire in a rugged portion of northeast San Diego County has burned 7,055 acres and destroyed 120 structures, most of them at the Al Bahr Mt. Laguna Shrine campground, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said Tuesday evening.
The fire, which erupted Saturday southeast of Julian, is considered 40% contained. Full containment is not expected until Sunday.
The El Prado, Laguna and Horse Heaven campgrounds, which were ordered evacuated, have been spared. But the Foster Lodge campground, near the Al Bahr campground, was damaged, Cal-Fire said.
Sunrise Highway remains closed from Interstate 8 to California 79. The fire is on both sides of Sunrise Highway, Cal-Fire said.
The fire has been dubbed the Chariot fire because it was first spotted Saturday near Chariot Canyon. The Red Cross has established a center for evacuees at Joan MacQueen Middle School in Alpine.
Five injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire has not been determined.
More than 2,100 fire personnel are fighting the blaze amid the rocky terrain, much of it in the Cleveland National Forest. Helicopters and air tankers are helping in the attack.
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tony.perry@latimes.com
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