Firefighters Continue Progress On Lightning-Ignited Grove Fire Near Palomar Mountain

Firefighters Sunday continued to make progress containing the 863-acre Grove Fire in a northeastern part of San Diego County which was apparently caused by a lightning spark.

The fire, which began Wednesday afternoon in the Sunshine Summit area north of Oak Grove and east of Palomar Mountain, was 85% contained as of 9:40 a.m. Sunday, according to Cal Fire.

Officials said Saturday that most evacuation warnings have been lifted except in areas close to the perimeter of the blaze.

A total of 374 personnel, five helicopters, 20 engines, five bulldozers, 12 water tenders and 14 fire crews assigned to battle the blaze.

“We are coordinating with the Bureau of Land Management and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to minimize impacts on cultural and heritage resources,” Cal Fire said in a Thursday update.

A heavy lightning storm moved through the area just before the blaze erupted, and investigators concluded that the atmospheric electrical activity ignited it.

Wildfires in rural regions are often ignited by lightning.

As ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters worked to halt the spread of the southeast-moving blaze, sheriff’s deputies cleared residents out of homes closest to its leading edges.

A temporary shelter for the displaced was in operation at Warner Springs Community Resource Center.

Two firefighters suffered minor injuries Wednesday while working to corral the blaze, a Cal Fire spokesman said.

One additional firefighter also suffered a minor heat-related injury.

City News Service contributed to this report.