Crews have 400-acre Jennings Fire in Lakeside 100 percent contained

KUSI Newsroom,
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KUSI Newsroom

LAKESIDE (KUSI) — Thursday 6 p.m. — The Lake Jennings Fire is now 100 percent contained at 400 acres. 

6 a.m. — Crews working to extinguish the smoldering remnants of a wildfire that scorched some 400 acres in Lakeside had the burn area roughly 90 contained Thursday morning.

Engine emissions from a passing vehicle sparked the so-called Jennings Fire alongside Interstate 8 near Olde Highway 80 shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday,
according to Cal Fire.

Wednesday 4:45 p.m. — The 400-acre Lake Jennings Fire was 60 percent contained Wednesday afternoon.

Both eastbound lanes of the I-8 were open to traffic, with little to no delays.

6:00 a.m. — Crews have a 400-acre blaze dubbed the Jennings Fire 30 percent contained Wednesday morning, Cal Fire Capt. Issac Sanchez said. 

One lane of eastbound Interstate 8 just east of Lake Jennings Park Road was reopened Wednesday, California Highway Patrol said. 

Another containment update will be provided at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sanchez said. 

Tuesday 9:16 p.m. —  All mandatory evacuations have been lifted for homes near the Lake Jennings fire. 

The 400-acre brush fire is 10 percent contained 

8:45 p.m. — Automobile exhaust sparked a fast-moving wildfire that blackened about 400 open acres near Lake Jennings Tuesday, forcing evacuations of some back-country homes and prompting a full closure of a several-mile stretch of nearby Interstate 8, authorities reported.

By 5 p.m., crews had halted the spread of the fire, allowing for the reopening of the westbound lanes of the interstate in the area.

Investigators determined that engine emissions from a passing vehicle ignited the blaze, according to Cal Fire.

6:30 p.m. — The temporary evacuation shelter at Granite Hills High School has been closed. Joan MacQueen Middle School remains open, but fire officials believe residents will be allowed to go home later tonight.

Fire officials also said the cause of the fire appears to be accidental. A catalytic converter found at the origin of the fire, but the details are still under investigation.

One lane of the eastbound I-8 will be open at 7 p.m. 

5:30 p.m. — The Lake Jennings Fire remains at 400-acres, but the forward rate of spread has stopped. 

All lanes of the westbound I-8 have opened, but eastbound lanes remain closed at this time. 

4:26 p.m. — The Lake Jennings Fire has grown to 400 acres and is still zero percent contained, but the forward rate of spread has stopped. 

California Highway Patrol has reopened the WB lanes of the I-8, but EB lanes remain closed.

4:12 p.m. — An evacuation advisory was issued for Puetz Valley, Hunter Pass and portions of Harbison Canyon. Evacuation centers have been established at Joan McQueen Middle and Granite Hills High School. 

Granite Hills High School
1719 E Madison Ave. El Cajon

Joan MacQueen Middle School
2001 Tavern Rd. Alpine

The Red Cross was working with officials to coordinate relief efforts for those being affected by the fire. 

3:29 p.m. — The Lake Jennings Fire has grown to 300 acres with at least five homes threatened.

Joan MacQueen Middle School is the evacuation location for residents being asked to leave their homes. 

2:30 p.m. — Residents were evacuated from their homes in El Cajon Tuesday after a brush fire broke out off of Interstate 8 near Lake Jennings. 

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents on Viewside Lane and Alpine Blvd. in El Cajon after a fire sparked at 1:40 p.m. Tuesday on the south side of I-8 near Lake Jennings Park Road, according to Cal Fire San Diego The fire quickly grew to 100 acres and was moving at a high rate of speed.

Joan MacQueen Middle School is the evacuation location for residents being asked to leave their homes. 

    At least one resident from the Crown Hills community in Lakeside reported ash falling onto their property. 

    A SigAlert was issued and lanes were shut down in both directions at 2:20 p.m. from Tavern Road to Lake Jennings Park Road. The on-ramp to I-8 E at Lake Jennings Park Road was also closed and vehicles on I-8 were being re-routed away from the fire.

    Crews from Heartland Fire and Cal Fire San Diego were tending to the blaze.

    Road closures in effect:

    • traffic diverted on I-8
    • Eastbound at Lake Jennings Park Rd.
    • Westbound at Tavern Rd.

    This is a developing story and will be updated. 

    Categories: Fire Watch 2017, Local San Diego News