Cost of Highway Fire adjusted to $916,692

Video by Chauncy Miller and JP Raineri

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skWQWIbCDns[/youtube]

(UPDATE Tues., May 20, 9 a.m.)

Authorities have announced that the cost of the Highway Fire has been adjusted again - this time to $916,692.

(UPDATE Mon., May 19, 8:15 a.m.)

According to officials, the cost of the Highway Fire has now been adjusted to $880,769.

(UPDATE Sun., May 18, 9 a.m.)

Authorities are now reporting that the acreage involved and the overall cost of the Highway Fire has increased as more information comes in. The cost is now being reported as $1,105,447.00 and the acreage burned has been adjusted to 441 after more concise mapping.

(UPDATE, Sat., May 17, 11:30 a.m.)

HIGHWAY FIRE cost estimate $843.796; no structures destroyed

Cal Fire unified command has tentatively reported the cost of the Highway Fire to be at $843,796. No structures were reportedly destroyed in the blaze.

(PREVIOUS UPDATE Fri., May 16, 1:30 pm)

SDG&E restores power to Rancho Monserate senior community after Highway Fire destroys 12 power poles

San Diego Gas & Electric spokesperson Erin Coller has just reported to the Village News that power was restored to the Rancho Monserate senior community at about 1 p.m. today. The community of 236 homes had been without power for 2 days due to power poles being damaged in the Highway Fire. The fire has been 100 percent contained.

(PREVIOUS STORY)

The wildfire that blackened about 380 acres (500 acres were previously reported by CalFire) in the Fallbrook area, jumped major roadways, threatened homes and forced evacuations was contained tonight.

The non-injury blaze, dubbed the Highway Fire, erupted for unknown reasons near state Route 76 and Old Highway 395 at about 1 p.m. Wednesday, Cal Fire reported.

Stretches of Interstate 15, Old Highway 395 and state Route 76 were closed for several hours as crews battled the blaze.

No structural damage was reported.

Almost 600 households were contacted via a ''reverse 911'' system that urged residents to vacate their homes for safety's sake, and a temporary shelter was established at Fallbrook High School. The evacuation order was lifted Wednesday night, according to Cal Fire.

San Diego Gas & Electric is reporting that the Rancho Monserate mobile home senior community of 236 mobile homes (approx. 400 seniors) is still without power due to this fire.

According to SDG&E, about one dozen power poles have had to be replaced in that area to restore power.

"Our crews are working very hard on this and hope to have power restored by this afternoon (Friday)," said Erin Coller, spokesperson for SDG&E.

According to officials with Cal Fire, the Highway Fire, which erupted near Old Highway 395 and West Lilac Road yesterday, Wed., May 14, mid-day, has now burned 500 acres and is being reported as 40 percent contained.

The fire led to the evacuation of Sullivan Middle School in Bonsall, Rancho Monserate mobile home community (at Old Highway 395 and Dulin Road) and Lake Rancho Viejo housing development off Dulin Road on the east side of Interstate 15.

When the fire jumped Interstate 15, the freeway was closed for a period time to allow firefighters the best access possible.

Due to live fire on the south side of State Route 76, that highway was closed for about two hours from South Mission Road in Bonsall to Interstate 15.

Cal Fire has not reported any injuries or structures lost as a result of this fire at this time.

The fire did destroy some power lines in the area which has led to about 61 customers being without electricity since 4 p.m. yesterday.

According to SDG&E spokesperson Erin Coller, the utility company hopes to have power restored to the area by around 6 p.m. this evening (Thurs., May 15) pending further updates.

Rancho Monserate is a predominantly senior community.

Cal Fire to report update on status of Highway Fire; Rancho Monserate remains without power

Debbie Ramsey

Managing Editor

Authorities with Cal Fire are gathering information from all fire incident command posts throughout the county this morning and will provide a status update as soon as possible.

As a result of damage to power lines during the Highway Fire, residents of Rancho Monserate mobile home community at Old Highway 395 and Dulin Road in Fallbrook are without power. Officials have tentatively told those residents (a senior community) they may be without power for five days.

SDG&E is to provide an update shortly on that situation.

Watch this website for this latest information as soon as it becomes available.

(LAST UPDATE 12:00 am)

According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the evacuation notice issued for the Highway Fire along Old Highway 395 and Interstate 15 in Bonsall has been lifted. The AlertSanDiego message initially went out to more than 1,600 phone numbers. A temporary evacuation site that was set up at Fallbrook High School is now closed.

The wildfire rampaged across about 600 acres of brushy terrain in northern San Diego County today, jumping major roadways, threatening homes and forcing 1600 evacuations.

The blaze near state Route 76 and Old Highway 395 erupted for unknown reasons about 1 p.m., Cal Fire reported. As of about 10:30 p.m., the blaze was 5 percent contained.

Interstate 15, Old Highway 395 and state Route 76 were all closed near the blaze for several hours, but have since been reopened.

(UPDATE 7:45p.m.)

Road Closures

The California Highway Patrol reports three more road closures:

· Old Highway 395 in both directions from Dulin Road to Lilac Road

· Eastbound Highway 78 Twin Oaks Valley offramp is closed but Highway 78 remains open

· Business Interstate 8 (also known as Old Highway 80) between Las Coches Road and Main Street.

If you need emergency assistance in evacuation, call 9-1-1.

Highway Fire Evacuation Center is Fallbrook High

The Sheriff’s Department says residents who were evacuated because of the Highway Fire should go to an evacuation center at Fallbrook High School, 2400 South Stage Coach Lane. The Pala Golf Resort is not being used as an evacuation center. Large animals can be taken to Oceanside Ivy Ranch at 110 Rancho Del Oro in Oceanside, Cloverdale Ranch at 2460 Cloverdale Road in Escondido or Warner Ranch at 10950 Pala Road in Pala.

UPDATE: I-15 reopened although "Highway Fire" has jumped freeway; more evacuations ordered as fire hits 600 acres

Residents are urged to call 2-1-1 for all non-emergency calls and visit http://www.sdcountyemergency.com for updates online.

(UPDATE, 4;20 p.m., Wed., May 14)

According to the most recent information available from authorities, more evacuations have been ordered as a result of the now 600-acre West Lilac Fire - which is now being called the "Highway Fire."

The Sheriff’s Department issued additional evacuations because of the brush fire which is burning near Dulin Road and Old Highway 395 in Bonsall.

The fire is not contained at this time, according to CAL FIRE.

At about 3 p.m., Alert San Diego was used to notify about 598 contacts, including homes, businesses and cell phones, of the evacuation order.

Residents being evacuated from this area have been directed to Pala Mesa Golf Course at 2001 S. Old Highway 395.

The Sheriff’s Departments says the safe route of approach to the golf course is to take Pankey Road/SR 76, then head north on Interstate 15 to Mission Road, then south on Old Hwy 395 to Pala Mesa Golf Course.

(PRIOR UPDATE)

Village News personnel out in the area of the West Lilac Fire have reported that the fire has jumped Interstate 15 now to the east. Authorities have closed Interstate 15 in the area as well as State Route 76 from South Mission Road in Bonsall to Interstate 15.

UPDATE)

A Village News photojournalist near the scene of this fire is reporting that aerial fire retardant drops are helping keep this fire from gaining ground toward the Rancho Monserate Mobile Home community at this time (1:30 p.m.). However, the fire is now traveling down the hillside from the West Lilac area down toward the San Luis Rey Riverbed - west of the Rancho Monserate community.

(ORIGINAL STORY)

A fire is now burning on West Lilac Road as well as along Old Highway 395 and Interstate 15 that is causing evacuations of Sullivan Middle School in Bonsall and Rancho Monserate Mobile Home community on Dulin Road.

According to North County Fire, residents that live off of West Lilac Road west of Interstate 15 are immediately threatened and being told to evacuate.

No shelter information is available at this time.

North County Fire says there is no danger at this time (1:15 p.m.) to the Lake Rancho Viejo housing development on the east side of Interstate 15 at State Route 76.