Several grassy ridges over which a haze of smoke rises due to a brush fireA haze of smoke from Border Fire 18 covers the landscape on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of CalFire San Diego via Alert California)

A brush fire burned dozens of acres Saturday south of Dulzura in the Marron Valley area, according to CalFire San Diego.

The Border 18 Fire broke out shortly after 2 p.m. along Marron Valley Road in the back country not far from the U.S.-Mexico border. A second-alarm response and four additional air tankers were requested by the incident commander at about 3 p.m.

As of 5 p.m., the fire’s progress had stalled, with the blaze consuming 60 acres. Firefighters, CalFire said, had the flames 10% contained and were “focusing on building containment lines around the perimeter of the fire.”

By 3:20 p.m. officials had estimated the size at 50 acres, according to radio traffic from the incident commander; 10 minutes later, it had grown to 60 acres, according to a CalFire social media post.

Air tankers, bulldozers, engines, trucks, water tenders and hand crews from throughout the region were responding to the brush fire.

Two injuries were reported. An ambulance was called to treat someone with a scorpion bite, while another person suffered a knee injury, according to radio traffic.

Firefighters were assembling at the South Bay Rod & Gun Club on Marron Valley Road.

Updated 5:20 p.m. Nov. 8, 2025

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