The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has approved relief efforts to help victims of the Border Fire clean and rebuild their properties impacted by the devastating 7,609-acre blaze.
At a board meeting Tuesday morning, leaders unanimously approved assistance programs for victims of the wildfire, including the waiving of permit fees to rebuild and free distribution of bins to collect and clean up debris.
The support efforts were spearheaded by District 2 Supervisor Dianne Jacob, as the Border Fire affected residents in her district. She said this is something the county has done in the past for fire victims and it’s the right thing to do.
“It’s the least that we could do as a government agency, is to waive the building permit fees and also help with debris removal and hazardous materials,” Jacob explained. “And that’s our job – to step up for people in need.”
Fueled by relentless heat and winds, the Border Fire first sparked on June 19 around 11 a.m. near the border city of Potrero in southeast San Diego County, located approximately 42 miles from downtown San Diego.
As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, Cal Fire officials said the fire – now in its 10th day – was 92 percent contained and holding at 7,609 acres.
A total of 377 personnel remained at the Border Fire, plus 20 engines, eight water tenders and one bulldozer. Cal Fire said firefighters were continuing to strengthen containment lines and mop up hot spots. Last week, as it raged on, nearly 2,000 firefighters worked the frontlines to fight the blaze.
At its peak, the Border Fire destroyed five homes and 11 outbuildings and damaged a sixth home. It forced evacuations of approximately 700 residents in the area, as well as removal of livestock including horses, donkeys and emus, and many road closures.
For days, evacuees were left to wonder if their homes had been spared. Los Coches Creek Middle School on Dunbar Lane in unincorporated El Cajon became the gathering ground for Potrero residents, serving as an emergency shelter amid evacuations.
By the evening of June 23, Cal Fire officials said all evacuation orders had been lifted and residents were allowed to slowly and cautiously begin returning to their homes. As Potrero was repopulated, San Diego Gas & Electric continued to make repairs to many downed power lines and poles in the community.
Per the board’s decision, the county will waive permit fees for Potrero residents to rebuild any homes and structures lost in the fire, as long as the new structures are similar in size to what once stood. Those who want to rebuild with larger homes will receive a proportional waiver of fees, the board said.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Jacob warned this could be one of the worst fire seasons that San Diego County has experienced in recent years. She said residents in fire-prone areas should prepare for the worst by stocking up on food, water and emergency supplies for at least three days for their families and animals.
According to Cal Fire, the Border Fire has proven especially challenging due to the steep, rugged terrain in which it sparked. The area is difficult to access and is plagued by extremely dry vegetation created by years of historic drought in California. Cal Fire described the conditions as fueling “erratic fire behavior.”
