Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency for San Diego County, where a wildfire has destroyed several homes.
Brown issued the declaration on Friday because of a blaze that tore through the community of Alpine, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of San Diego. Reporters at the scene say at least five homes and perhaps a dozen or more burned.
Fire officials say they’ve stopped the growth of the 400-acre blaze but hotspots still threaten homes.
Elsewhere in the county, a 330-acre fire on the Camp Pendleton Marine base that prompted the evacuation of 750 homes is now 40 percent contained.State fire officials say the 400-acre fire was only 5 percent contained, but crews had virtually stopped its growth and were focusing on knocking down hotspots that continue to threaten houses and mobile homes.
One firefighter was treated for minor facial burns.
The reports came from journalists at the scene of the wildfire in Alpine, one of three blazes in the county that erupted Friday afternoon.Video from news helicopters showed fire crews running along Interstate 8 and trying to quell the flames that were spreading along the side of the freeway.
South of the freeway, a handful of homes were completely engulfed in flames.
San Diego Gas & Electric says nearly 1,700 customers are without power after the fire damaged the electric system.
Gusty winds fanned the flames as Southern California struggles through a scorching heat wave.
