SUNSHINE SUMMIT — Fire crews worked today to subdue the smoldering remnants of a lightning-sparked wildfire, identified as the Grove Fire, that blackened an estimated 900 acres in the rural northeastern reaches of San Diego County.
The fire prompted residential evacuations but caused no known structural damage.
The blaze broke out about 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Sunshine Summit area, north of Oak Grove and east of Palomar Mountain, according to Cal Fire.
As ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters worked to halt the spread of the southeast-moving blaze, sheriff’s deputies cleared residents of homes closest to its leading edges.
They also advised people in areas at safer distances to prepare to evacuate on short notice if conditions worsened. A temporary shelter for the displaced was in operation at Warner Springs Community Resource Center in the 30900 block of state Route 79.
Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said two firefighters suffered minor injuries Wednesday while working to corral the blaze.
As of midday Thursday, few active fire areas remained in the burn area, which by then was about 10% contained, the spokesman said. Despite crews’ steady progress in quelling the blaze, however, Chihuahua Valley Road remained closed until further notice.
A heavy lightning storm moved through the area just before the blaze erupted, and investigators concluded that the atmospheric electrical activity ignited it, according to Cal Fire.
