Wildfire in San Diego County Mountains, California

The Chariot Fire started around 1155 PST on July 6, near Chariot Canyon Road at Oriflamme Canyon Road in Vallecito, San Diego County. The location is east of Sunrise Highway and about 9 miles southeast of Julian. The rugged terrain and poor access hindered control efforts. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Laguna, El Prado, Fosters and Horsehaven Campgrounds were evacuated of an unknown number of campers. Twenty campers were evacuated from Shriners Camp to a shelter in Alpine. Sunrise Highway/County Road 1 was closed from SR-79 to Old Highway 80. The fire threatened 120 residential structures and destroyed 118 structures, of undetermined type, plus 2 commercial buildings. The communication site on Monument Peak, as well as other nearby campgrounds in the Cleveland National Forest were threatened as well. Approximately 7 firefighters sustained unknown injuries. The fire burned 7,055 acres before being fully contained around 1700 PST on July 15.