SAN DIEGO -- The Paradise Fire has blackened about 56,000 acres, destroyed 117 homes, 116 outbuildings and was 25 percent contained Thursday, 10News reported.
The strong winds are pushing the blaze east, but its advance was stopped at state Route 76 at the base of Palomar Mountain.
"The wind advisories are up. We expect winds to increase overnight, (Wednesday), in the mountains of San Diego County where most of the winds continue -- up to 30 mph. By (Thursday), the advisories are for gusts up to 50 mph," 10News weather anchorman Loren Nancarrow said Wednesday night.
The fire forced the Palomar Mountain community and La Jolla Indian Reservation to evacuate Wednesday. Sheriff's officials also notified residents of Ramona and San Diego Country Estates Wednesday afternoon that the fire could develop into a threat.
Evacuated residents can go to the Red Cross shelters at Valley Center High School or Emmanuel Faith Chapel in Escondido.
"It still has not moved onto Palomar Mountain, and our efforts there are exactly the same as Julian," California Department of Forestry Chief Rick Henson said. "We want to keep it off the Palomar Mountain at all costs."
The fire has forced the California Highway Patrol to close roads around Lake Wohlford.
Valley Center Road was closed from North Lake Wohlford Road to Pala (SR 76) Road. Paradise Street at Woods Valley Road is off-limits for nonresidents, and Woods Valley is shut from North Lake Wohlford to Valley Center.
Oakvale and Guejito roads are both closed southbound from North Lake Wohlford.
Fire officials told 10News that crews can not handle structure protection for homes in the area. Efforts will be focused on saving the small village of businesses in the community of Palomar Mountain.
Fire officials at a nearby command center asked for California Department of Forestry air support near Lake Henshaw and were denied due to dangerous conditions.
Meantime, the Otay Fire, burning along the U.S.-Mexico border, charred more than 45,000 acres in the South Bay, according to the CDF. That fire was fully contained Wednesday morning, and a wildfire that started last week on Camp Pendleton in the North County was fully contained Tuesday.
Copyright 2007 by 10News.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Firestorm Archive: Updates, Stories, Video, Slideshows 
Slideshows: Viewer Fire Photos
Video: 10News Fire Video Archive
Discuss: Share Thoughts About Fires
