California Wildfires
Live Blog EndedJan 24, 2025

Recap: Crews battle Border 2 Fire near Otay Mountain for second day

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Cal Fire says almost 700 firefighters were on scene Friday, protecting Chula Vista and the surrounding communities from the Border 2 Fire with multiple resources on air and on the ground. NBC 7’s Jeanette Quezada reports.

What to know: Border 2 Fire

  • Size: 6,273 acres, 10% contained
  • Evacuation orders: SDC-2389-A, SDC-2390, SDC-2464, SDC-2465, SDC-2466, SDC-2543, SDC-2544, SDC-2545 (Visit Genasys Protect for more information)
  • Evacuation warnings: SDC-2306, SDC-2307, SDC-2389-B, SDC-2391, SDC-2393, SDC-2461, SDC-2462, SDC-2463, SDC-2467, SDC-2541, SDC-2542, SDC-2546, SDC-2605
  • Evacuation centers: The American Red Cross has opened an overnight shelter for evacuees at Cuyamaca College Gym, 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon, CA 92019
  • Road closures: Alta Road, near Orayis closed to traffic just south of Otay Mesa Road; Otay Lakes Road closed from Wueste to CA-94 Campo Road; WB SR-94 at SR-188; EB/WB SR-94 from Honey Springs Rd to SR-188
  • A smoke advisory is affecting Otay Mesa, El Cajon, Alpine, Pine Valley, Jamul and surrounding areas

This live blog about the Border 2 Fire has ended. You can find the latest updates on the fire here.

A large vegetation fire continued burning just north of the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego County on Friday night.

The so-called Border 2 Fire broke out on Otay Mountain around 2:30 p.m. Thursday, according to Cal Fire. It sent a large plume of smoke into the sky that could be seen for miles across San Diego County.

By nighttime, the fire had spread to around 600 acres before Cal Fire officials said crews witnessed "extreme fire behavior." The blaze then exploded to thousands of acres overnight.

As of 10:30 p.m. Friday, the fire has scorched 6,273 acres and is 10% surrounded.

Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued for areas to the fire's north, east and west — with some stretching into eastern Chula Vista.

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