A wildfire, referred to as the Kitchen Fire, ignited today near Lake Morena and quickly consumed 25 acres of brush near Old Highway 80 and Kitchen Creek Road within the Cleveland National Forest, as FOX 5 San Diego reported. Plumes of smoke from the blaze were visible from Interstate 8, and responders battled the flames, which had spread at a moderate pace by 11:45 a.m.
As the fire continues to burn through the forested area, CAL FIRE San Diego has joined forces with the Cleveland National Forest to address the situation, engaging 13 engines, four crews, and six aircraft to fight the fire that started at approximately 10:30 a.m., because the high winds are aiding the spread of the flames which poses a threat to the nearby communities and efforts have been underway to contain it.
@CALFIRESANDIEGO is assisting @ClevelandNF with a wildland fire near Kitchen Creek Road in the community of Lake Morena. Please follow the Cleveland National Forest for more information. #kitchenfire@ALERTCalifornia pic.twitter.com/XSW884GkeW
— CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) July 1, 2024
Residents in the Lake Morena area are urged to stay alert and informed as the situation develops. The Cleveland National Forest's Twitter account is a reputable source of ongoing information regarding the #kitchenfire. CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire advises the public to follow updates through these official channels. Coordination between multiple firefighting agencies indicates the severity of the woodland fire even though no evacuation orders have yet been issued.
As firefighting teams work tirelessly to keep the Kitchen Fire under control, local authorities ask that people avoid the area around Old Highway 80 and Kitchen Creek Road to ensure safety and to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles.
