Chariot Fire 100% Contained; 149 Structures Destroyed

An East County wildfire that destroyed 149 structures while blackening 7,055 acres was declared 100 percent contained early today, authorities said.

The Chariot Fire broke out just before 1 p.m. July 6 off Sunrise Highway, nine miles southeast of Julian, according to Cal Fire, which coordinated ground and air attacks.

At its heights, the fire was fought by nearly 2,000 firefighters. Twelve crew members sustained minor injuries over the past nine days. Cal Fire said most of the injuries were tied to heat exhaustion.

In addition to the 149 structures that were destroyed in the fire, nine were damaged. The majority of the losses were campground cabins in the Mount Laguna area.

Al Bahr Shrine Camp was the hardest hit, losing its lodge, social hall and about 10 cottages — all log structures built in the 1920s — along with 85 or more residential trailers.

Residents of about 20 homes were ordered to evacuate June 7 and an additional 100 residences were evacuated June 8. All evacuation orders were lifted by Thursday evening.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

—City News Service