[Updated] Chariot Fire Threatens 120 Homes, Forces Evacuations

Originally posted at 8:30 a.m. July 8, 2013. Updated at 6:20 p.m. July 8.

Firefighters labored for a third day today to subdue a wildfire that has blackened about 4,700 acres in rugged terrain southeast of Julian, forcing the evacuation of scores of back-country homes along with several campgrounds.

The blaze, which erupted for unknown reasons shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday east of Sunrise Highway in the Chariot Mountain area, was about 20 percent contained this morning, according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire said at least eight structures were damaged or destroyed.

The blaze, dubbed the Chariot Fire, was posing imminent threats to 120 homes near Mount Laguna as the weekend came to a close, according to the state agency.

Officials cleared residents out of 20 of those residences Sunday night and from the rest this morning, when the evacuation zone was widened to cover about three miles along Sunrise Highway, including areas to the west of the rural route.

Homes within a half mile on each side of Sunrise Highway between mile markers 17 and 29 were still under investigation into Monday evening.

The American Red Cross set up an emergency shelter for the displaced at Joan McQueen Middle School on Tavern Road in Alpine.

Also evacuated was Horse Heaven Campground in Cleveland National Forest, as were the Al Bahr Shrine, El Prado and Laguna and campgrounds, and the Sierra Club's Foster Lodge.

About 1,170 firefighters were working the lines this morning, including personnel who had to be airlifted in due to the steep and remote nature of the burn site. Four crew members have suffered minor injuries while battling the flames, authorities said.

Aiding Cal Fire in the effort were the U.S. Forest Service, California State Parks, and the county Fire Authority and Sheriff's Department. The California Highway Patrol closed State Route 79 at Sunrise Highway and blocked off the latter roadway at Old Highway 80.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

-City News Service