REGION: Fire burning near Vail Lake; Highway 79 South closed

Blaze has potential to expand overnight

By NICOLE SACK and JOHN HALL - Staff writers | Monday, August 18, 2008 9:12 PM PDT ∞

VAIL LAKE ---- Firefighters continued to battle a brush fire burning east of Temecula near Vail Lake on Monday night.

The fire, which was reported at about 3:30 p.m. Monday burning near Highway 79 South and Vail Lake Road, had charred about 100 acres and was about 40 percent surrounded by about 7 p.m., authorities said. But they feared it could get much worse if propelled by strong winds overnight.

When firefighters first responded, a helicopter crew member told dispatchers the blaze had "extreme potential" to spread.

Sean Dakin, a captain for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said the blaze was the largest this year in Southwest Riverside County.

"Even if Northern California just finished up with its fire season, in Southern California we're still good to burn," said Dakin, citing the potential for strong Santa Ana winds.

It was a different set of winds that were playing a part in Monday's fires.

The afternoon coastal winds that sweep through Rainbow Pass and through Temecula pushed the flames to the southeast ---- toward the same area south of the county's border with San Diego County where the Poomacha fire burned last October. Much of the vegetation in that area had been thinned and fire breaks had been created, and CalFire Chief Glenn Patterson said the fire would "have quite a bit of ways to get there."

Patterson said if fire crews aided by air drops of fire retardant could hold the fire at the ridge line that ran just south of Highway 79 South, the blaze could be more controllable. However, if the flames breach the ridge line, the fire has the potential to grow to 500 acres, he said.

He said the steepness of the terrain and thick vegetation in drainage areas of the hills could prove difficult for firefighters to maneuver in. Patterson said 98 percent of the blaze was inside the Cleveland National Forest.

Two firefighers sustained minor injuries, with one being treated at the scene and the other taken to a local hospital, aacording to a Calfire release. No structures were in danger and no evacuations were ordered by early evening Monday, authorities said.

Motorists were delayed and detoured around the area because a section of Highway 79 South was shut down.

California Highway Patrol officers closed the highway on both sides of the blaze ---- at Pauba Road near Temecula to the west and Sage Road in Aguanga to the east. According to the CHP Web site, the closure could extend into Tuesday morning.

Officials had requested at least six retardant-carrying air tankers and four water-dropping helicopters to help attack the flames from above.

An estimated 320 firefighters with 33 engines were assigned to the fire, officials said.

Fire officials estimated they should have the flames surrounded by 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or jhall@californian.com. Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628

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