Firefighters took advantage of cooler weather Monday to gain ground on a pair of small brush fires in Southern California.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Capt. Nick Schuler said a blaze east of Fallbrook, in San Diego County, is 80 percent contained. Full containment of the 122-acre fire is expected later in the day. Schuler said the blaze was human-caused and damaged three homes.
The fire began at about 3 p.m. Sunday near state Route 76, about a mile west of Pala Casino. Officials ordered evacuations on Palomar Del Norte Road and said that major electrical transmission lines were affected by the blaze. San Diego Gas and Electric was on scene Sunday night repairing damaged transmission lines.
Eastbound 76 was closed as fire crews battled the blaze, and reopened shortly before 8 p.m., the California Highway Patrol said.
A second fire in Joshua Tree National Park in the Mojave Desert is 5 percent contained, with full containment expected later Monday.
Park ranger Pam Tripp says the 150-acre fire is burning pinon pines, juniper and Joshua trees in the wilderness area.
On Sunday, a dozen hikers were airlifted out of the area after their trail was blocked by the blaze.
