Right now, firefighters are working
around the clock to put out the border 32
fire still burning in the East county.
Good afternoon. Welcome to the four.
I'm Heather Myers.
I'm Jesse Paganin for Carlo Chiquito.
The fire broke out yesterday and is burning
just northwest of Takata and Dulzura.
So far, it's burned more than 4400 acres,
burned several structures, 3 homes,
and has left at least three people hurt.
The fire is only 5% contained,
with Rd closures and evacuation
order still in place.
CBS 8 Shannon Handy has more on
what firefighters are up against.
Shannon, I heard you saying that it
was hot just to grab that microphone as
you were getting ready for this show.
I can't imagine what the firefighters
are dealing with.
Yeah, Heather and Jesse,
we're out here at the command
post and this is where many of
those 300 firefighters who are on
this fire will spend the night.
Now, I've been out here since about
11:00 this morning, and when we arrive,
the temperature gauge on our car said 104.
Just standing out here literally feels
like you're standing in a sauna.
So just imagine being a firefighter with all
that gear dealing with these conditions,
which includes steep terrain.
Man.
We captured a couple of firefighters
packing up fire hoses which
they then delivered to
crews on the front lines.
Now this is what the fire looked like
yesterday and with the wind out here it
grew quickly to now over 4400 acres.
At this hour, three homes,
3 outbuildings, 2 sheds,
two RV's, 3 barns and a commercial
facility have been destroyed.
Two men were told suffered serious
burns and had to be airlifted out.
One firefighter was also
injured but is said to be.
Mine and back working now ask
for any heat related injuries.
I spoke with a Cal Fire spokesperson
not long ago who said so far
there haven't been any reports,
which is pretty miraculous
considering how hot it is.
He says they're making sure firefighters
are resting and getting lots of water.
They also have crews here from outside
the area which helps relieve other crews.
As I mentioned,
there are 300 firefighters out
here and I can tell you from
driving around the work they've
put in is remarkable despite the
damage we saw so many homes still
standing even though you can see.
Just how close the fire gone?
I spoke with a woman who used to
work as a volunteer firefighter.
Between her,
using her own hose and a
playmaking retardant drops,
her home was one of the ones save,
though the area around it
was completely charred.
The bomber dumped right on top of us.
There was an engine out here, 2 firefighters.
My niece was at this end of the driveway.
I was at the end of other end of
the driveway with hoses and he
dumped right on top of us and that
stopped it from this direction.
But unfortunately it went down through
the Creek and back up the Creek and
then the wind blew it this direction
and then it came on up through the
property and took out the property.
As for what will happen tonight,
firefighters will continue monitoring
this fire, especially those hotspots.
Now, they tell me that today the fire
was not as active as that video you saw
of those big bright flames everywhere.
That is not the case today.
But again, they are taking no chances.
So they expect to be out
here not just tonight,
but for the next several days.
Now, Shannon, we obviously know the
fire is getting in the way for a lot
of people, but we're also hearing
of the fire impacting animals.
What can you tell us about that? Up there.
Yeah, Jesse, there are a
lot of animals in this area,
not just dogs and cats,
but a lot of farm animals.
And we actually saw the Humane Society.
They were out here with several of
their trucks and vans and RV's going
to properties, just checking in,
making sure there were no animals.
In fact, we caught up with them
at this one property where there
was a llama and several dogs.
So they were in the process of making
sure those animals were OK and if they
needed to transport them to safety,
where they will be fed and monitored.
So lots of people out here, not.
Was fighting the fire,
but helping those who lost
their homes and of course,
helping those animals that were left
stranded. Yeah, hard to watch people
lose so much, but this is when San
Diego really shows how our community
can come together, Shannon thinks.