SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Cal Fire San Diego units stopped the spread of a two-acre vegetation blaze near Otay Mountain Truck Trail, a mile north of the U.S.-Mexico border, which started Sunday afternoon as a signal fire by a hiker in need of medical aid.
The fire was first reported around 2:30 p.m. Sunday at one acre and slowly spreading. By 4:20 p.m., air units dropped retardant all around the blaze and forward progress had been stopped, said Capt. Thomas Shoots of Cal Fire San Diego.
A hiker in the area who was experiencing dehydration and seeking medical help admitted to setting a signal fire that got out of hand, an incident commander at the scene told Shoots. The hiker was located near the fire and a helicopter crew making water drops transitioned to a hoist rescue and flew him to a hospital.
Firefighters will remain at the scene for about two hours for mop-op operations, Shoots said.
