What to KnowAcres: 170Evacuation orders and warnings issued. For a map, click hereTemporary evacuation point: 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way in Valley CenterRoad closures: East Grade Road at Highway 76
A wildfire spread through Cleveland National Forest near Lake Henshaw Friday afternoon, blackening dozens of acres and prompting evacuation orders, warnings and closing a highway in the rural area.
The fire, dubbed the Grade Fire, erupted about 1:30 p.m. Friday off the 25700 block of East Grade Road, north of state Route 76 and just west of Lake Henshaw in Santa Ysabel, according to Cal Fire.
The Grade Fire closed East Grade Road at Highway 76 to all vehicle traffic, except emergency personnel.
By about 5 p.m., evacuation orders and warnings had been issued for areas around the fire. For a map of those areas, click here.
A temporary evacuation point has been set up at 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way in Valley Center.
Ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters attacked the flames, which were moving to the northeast, federal forestry officials reported.
As of 4 p.m., the fire began burning at a dangerous rate of spread, according to the state agency.
It was not immediately clear what sparked the blaze.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information arrives.
#GradeFire If you live in the Lake Henshaw area, be aware of increased law enforcement and firefighting activity. A brush fire is burning near East Grade Road near Lake Henshaw and Highway 76.
An EVACUATION ORDER is in place for the shaded area in red shown in the map below. It… pic.twitter.com/VOzMj5VPW9
— San Diego Sheriff (@SDSheriff) August 1, 2026
For the rest of this evening and into tonight, the expectation is for fire crews to work on establishing containment lines, with a focus on firefighter safety. pic.twitter.com/54aCBl8uFG
— Cleveland NF (@ClevelandNF) July 31, 2026