Firefighters gained 100% containment on a vegetation fire dubbed the "Resort Fire" by Saturday evening, which began burning in East County on Friday afternoon. The fire had burned about 25 acres, according to Cal Fire.
The wind-driven plume from the Resort Fire, which is near state Route 79 just north of the Warner Springs Resort, could be seen for miles around.
Cal Fire spokesman Mike Cornette told NBC 7 shortly after 4 p.m. that the fire had burned 2 acres with a rapid rate of spread. About 45 minutes later, Cal Fire said in an X post that the flames had consumed 30 acres of grass and brush, and it was progressing at a dangerous rate of spread.
Multiple fire trucks from what appear to be several firefighting agencies were on scene.
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Closer to 5 p.m., flames from the fire were seen making a steady advance up a hillside, nearing its crest, and a fixed-wing aircraft was spotted by a drop in an effort to halt its progress.
The fire was 50% contained by 9:30 p.m., which was also when crews stopped the fire's forward progress, Cal Fire said.
By Saturday evening, firefighters had gained 100% containment on the fire, according to Cal Fire's incident map.
Officials from the Warner Unified School District said that, with the northbound road leading away from the school, it was loading Los Coyotes students onto buses and vans to be taken directly home.
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"All other students who take Mr. Inocente's northbound bus will be taken on the bus down through Pala, and through Temecula [to] home," the district posted on social media. "The southbound route will leave immediately and will deliver students as normal. Please be at your bus stop to wait for the students."
Another fire, this one in Fallbrook, burned 47 acres on Friday afternoon. A third fire burned earlier Friday in the San Pasqual Valley, but, fortunately, turned out to be far less dangerous.
Check back here for updates on this breaking-news store — Ed.
