Southern California wildfire spreads to US-Mexico border

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Firefighters in Southern California are working to contain a growing wildland fire that has spread to the U.S.-Mexico border.

One of several fires that broke out across California this weekend, the wildfire — dubbed the Border 53 Fire — has continued to grow since it started Saturday afternoon.

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As you can see in the Cal Fire incident map below, the wildland fire that started at 12:35 p.m. Saturday in Buttewig Canyon on the south slope of Otay Mountain has now spread to across the US-Mexico border.

Cal Fire reports the fire was 250 acres and 50% contained on the U.S. side of the border as of 7 p.m. Sunday. This is an increase from 80 acres on Saturday and 100 acres on Sunday morning.

Cal Fire Public Information Officer Brent Pascua told FOX 5 Sunday evening that the fire is now 150 acres on the Mexican side.

Firefighting air tankers from across California have been conducting fire suppression missions when conditions permit, according to Cal Fire.

Firefighters from the Viejas Fire Department and Cal Fire worked to strengthen containment throughout the day Sunday and said fire activity was lower Saturday evening due to more humidity in the air coming from the marine layer.

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A total of 60 firefighters were assigned to fight this fire, according to Cal Fire.

The causes and circumstances of the fire have not been determined at this time and are still under investigation. Real-time updates can be found here.

This wildfire is just one of many fires currently occurring in California. Cal Fire's incidents page shows all active wildfires in the state: Boyd Fire in Tulare County (36 acres), Corral Fire in San Joaquin County (14,168 acres), Park Fire in County of Riverside (13 acres), Red Fire in Kern County (98 acres) and West Fire in Santa Barbara County (478 acres).

So far in 2024, there have been 1,253 wildfires statewide, with 13,790 acres burned and four structures destroyed.

Check back for updates

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