A firefighter checks smoldering vegetation at the scene of the Monte Fire. (Photo courtesy of Cal Fire)
A wildfire that has blackened 1,051 acres in rugged open terrain near El Monte County Park has been 90% contained, fire authorities said Sunday.
The blaze erupted for unknown reasons at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday off the 15000 block of El Monte Rd. in Lakeside.
“Continued containment line construction for fire crews remains a top priority,” Cal Fire said Sunday. “Along with building containment lines, fire crews are focusing on searching for and extinguishing hot spots within the fire’s perimeter.”
The fire caused no reported structural damage, but it left three firefighters with minor injuries.
As the flames spread to the east over rugged terrain below El Cajon Mountain, fire crews cleared residents out of rural neighborhoods north of El Monte Rd., east of Hazy Meadow Ln., south of Featherstone Canyon Rd. and northwest of El Capitan Reservoir.
A temporary shelter was established for the evacuees at a Walmart store on Camino Canada in El Cajon.
A refuge for displaced large animals was in operation at Dianne Jacob Equestrian Park on Moreno Rd. in Lakeside, and an emergency boarding area for small animals was available at South Shelter on Sweetwater Rd. in Bonita.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
City News Service contributed to this report.