A wildfire burning since Friday morning along the U.S.-Mexico border is now 95 percent contained, with firefighters making solid progress overnight, officials said Sunday.
Cal Fire San Diego said the "Cottonwood Fire" or "Border Fire" had scorched 550 acres on the Mexico side of the border and 100 acres on the U.S. side. As of 8 a.m. Sunday, Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire Authority Chief Tony Mecham said the blaze was 95 percent contained.
Officials said the fire was "flown using new infrared technology" Saturday night.
Cal Fire said that the fire is now holding at 100 acres as of 8:15 a.m.
Cal Fire San Diego said that while heavy fuels posed a challenge for fire crews, overnight firefighting operations had been successful in increasing the containment of the fire.
The Cottonwood Fire broke out at about 11:30 a.m. Friday on Marron Valley Road near Cottonwood Creek and Barrett Truck Trail along the U.S.-Mexico border, with part of it spreading to south San Diego County. Initially, officials said it was moving at a moderate rate of spread and was scorching 10 acres.
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No homes were threatened.
By 7:35 p.m. Friday, Cal Fire said approximately 100 acres had burned on the U.S. side of the border, while the acreage on the Mexico side had ballooned to 650. At that time, Cal Fire said the blaze was pushing east, but firefighters were making good progress in their efforts to contain it.
Heading into the fire fight Friday night, the blaze was 10 percent contained; about 60 firefighters were helping to battle the fire.
The deserts of east San Diego County were under an excessive heat warning at the time the fire erupted.
No injuries were reported in the wildfire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
