With three water-dropping helicopters and 300 firefighters assigned for Thursday, crews were making steady progress against the Creelman fire in Ramona, and by mid-morning the more than 1,500 people who had evacuated a day prior were allowed to return home.
Fire officials reported that forward progress of the fire was halted around 7 a.m. and the blaze, which has charred nearly 350 acres of brush, was 60% contained. One accessory dwelling unit was destroyed, and inspectors planned to take a closer look Thursday to see if any other structures were damaged in the sprawling San Diego Country Estates community.
Crews were able to expand containment lines overnight with the help of two night-flying helicopters making water drops. Firefighters also took advantage of cooler temperatures and the wind dying down.
Evacuation orders for an estimated 1,560 residents were lifted around 10:15 a.m. Thursday after the conditions were determined to be safe.
“We are looking really good,” said Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette. “The guys were able to put in a lot of work last night.”
Winds of 20 to 25 mph were expected to return to the fire zone, similar to what was seen Wednesday. One factor that would be different — the temperature.
“It is going to be significantly hotter than yesterday, up to 100 degres if not more in the area,” Cornette said. “Our firefighters are prepping for the increased heat.”
There were 16 aircraft dropping water and fire retardant on the fast-moving Creelman fire Wednesday. (Luke Johnson/ The San Diego Union-Tribune)
The fire started on Creelman Lane just west of the Simon County Reserve around 3 p.m. Wednesday and quickly spread, pushed by winds out of the west. At one point, two people were trapped behind flames and had to be rescued by a Cal Fire helicopter crew. Within 90 minutes, the fire had grown to 300 acres and lapped the edge of San Diego Country Estates, a community of more than 10,000 residents. Cal Fire mapping indicated the fire footprint had reached close to homes along Oak Springs Road on the western edge of the development.
“There was a steady wind out of the west of 20 mph and the fire was burning in alignment with the terrain, so those two factors plus the dry vegetation created the dangerous rate of spread,” Cornette said of Wednesday’s fire progression. “It was moving extremely fast.”
Fire officials responded with a large aerial assault and hundreds of firefighters on the ground.
On Wednesday, 16 aircraft were fighting the blaze — eight air tankers and six helicopters, with two air attack platforms — planes that choreograph the water and retardant drops and make sure the aircraft maintain safe distances from each other. That heavy response “was very helpful,” Cornette said, as was the upgraded Ramona airport, which allowed for air tankers to quickly reload with retardant and return to making drops.
“It was essential in keeping the fire out of the houses and limiting the damage,” he said.
Flames from the Creelman fire came close to a house in the Ryland Homes neighborhood of Ramona on Wednesday, but firefighters were able to save the home. (Stephanie Ogilvie)
Evacuations were ordered for neighborhoods north of San Vicente Road, west of Arena Way, south of Old Julian Highway and east of Griffith Road, according to online Genasys mapping. Warnings also were issued for communities around Gem Lane and Hanson Lane. A county spokesperson said there were 1,785 notification calls about evacuation orders and warnings sent to cellphones and made to landlines Wednesday.
The Red Cross opened an overnight shelter at Olive Peirce Middle School. Ramona Rodeo took in horses and other large animals that had been evacuated.