Evacuations remain in place as crews work to contain brush fire in SoCal

Jayne Yutig, Caleb Lunetta, The San Diego Union-Tribune on May 31, 2025

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SAN DIEGO — Fire crews continued work early Saturday to contain a brush fire that burned around 300 acres in Pala and forced evacuations.

The fire was first reported around 5:40 p.m. Friday on Henderson Road near Oaks Road and was 15% contained as of Saturday morning, according to Cal Fire.

Evacuation orders remained in place for areas immediately northeast of Henderson Road and around Magee Road, according to Alert San Diego. Evacuation warnings were in effect for neighborhoods immediately west of the fire, as well as along the Riverside County border.

Crews requested a “substantial number” of additional firefighters and equipment to aid in containment efforts. More than 250 firefighters and multiple aircraft were deployed Saturday morning to fight the blaze.

The fire is burning in a region that has received only half of its normal seasonal rainfall and is being fueled by the chaparral plant, the most flammable type of vegetation in the United States, the National Weather Service said.

On Friday evening, winds were gusting up to 13 mph out of the west and the air temperature near the fire was 70 at 7:30 p.m. Cool, moisture weather is expected to move into the region on Saturday, but significant rain is not expected.

A temporary evacuation point was set up in the Pala Casino parking lot at 11154 state Route 76.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.