Wildfires prompt evacuations near San Diego amid relentless Santa Ana winds

Editor’s note: This file captures the news of the California wildfires from Tuesday, Jan. 21. For the latest updates on the LA and San Diego fires, follow USA TODAY’s coverage for Wednesday, Jan. 22.

SAN DIEGO — Multiple wildfires broke out in San Diego County on Tuesday, prompting evacuation orders, school closures and power shutoffs, while officials in Los Angeles remained on high alert amid strong winds and relentlessly dry conditions.

Crews responded to three small brush fires overnight in northern San Diego County. The Lilac Fire, the largest of the blazes, grew to 85 acres and triggered evacuations in Bonsall, a small community about 45 minutes north of San Diego. The fire has displaced 86 residents and damaged two structures, officials said.

The Lilac Fire was 50% contained by 6 p.m. PST, according to local authorities and Cal Fire. Earlier Tuesday, the North County Fire Protection District said more than 200 firefighters were assigned to the incident.

The Pala Fire, north of the community of Pala Mesa, burned 17 acres of land and initially triggered evacuation orders that have since been lifted, officials said. Firefighters managed to stop the forward progress of the blaze, which was fully contained in the afternoon.

Another blaze, dubbed the Riverview Fire, burned only one acre of land before firefighters contained it. A fourth blaze — called the Friars Fire — erupted at around noon Tuesday near homes and businesses in the neighborhood of Mission Valley, about five miles north of downtown San Diego.

San Diego Fire-Rescue said in an update that the fire had burned between 15 to 20 acres and was “confined,” adding that fire crews will continue to “mop up of hot spots” into the night. Evacuation orders and warnings in the area were also lifted.

The origins of the blazes remain unknown.

The fires erupted as hurricane-force winds blew across Southern California through the night and early morning, according to preliminary reports from the National Weather Service. A 102-mph wind gust was recorded in the San Diego mountains around 10 p.m. Monday.

As of Tuesday, afternoon, more than 64,000 homes and businesses were without power across the Ventura, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Riverside counties, according to PowerOutage.us.

In Los Angeles County, firefighters made progress against two deadly wildfires that destroyed over 15,000 structures and killed at least 28 people. The region remained under red flag warnings, worrying officials that the Palisades and Eaton fires may spread or additional blazes could ignite.

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