LAKESIDE (CNS) - A wildfire that blackened 1,051 acres in rugged open terrain near El Monte County Park has been 90% contained, authorities said Sunday.
A Cal Fire spokesman said Sunday that crews "will slowly start getting released and back to their normal work assignment."
The blaze erupted for unknown reasons at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday off the 15000 block of El Monte Road in Lakeside, according to Cal Fire. It caused no reported structural damage but left four firefighters with minor injuries.
As the flames spread to the east over rugged terrain below El Cajon Mountain, authorities cleared residents out of rural neighborhoods north of El Monte Road, east of Hazy Meadow Lane, south of Featherstone Canyon Road andnorthwest of El Capitan Reservoir.
A temporary shelter was established for the evacuees at a Walmart store on Camino Canada in El Cajon. A refuge for displaced large animals was in operation at Dianne Jacob Equestrian Park on Moreno Road in Lakeside, and an emergency boarding area for small animals was available at South Shelter on Sweetwater Road in Bonita.
There were 526 personnel assigned to the fire, including 19 engines, five water tenders and three dozers, officials said.
The cause of the fire remained under investigation.
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