Firefighters battle growing wildfires near the US-Mexico border

A wildfire in San Diego County near the U.S.-Mexico border burned to more than 500 acres in several hours Thursday night. But the fire, known as the Border 2 fire, is miles from any home or building, and firefighters say they are making progress in bringing it under control.

Firefighters were dispatched to the scene just before 2 p.m. local time and were trying to slow the spread with the help of tanks and helicopters, said Capt. Robert Johnson of the Cal Fire, the fire department. About 200 firefighters will be on duty throughout the night, he added.

The fire was burning through the Otay Mountain Wilderness, a remote area that is steep and rocky, Capt. Johnson said. That makes field access difficult, he said, but provides a much-needed buffer between the flames and populated areas.

However, officials in Chula Vista, a town about five miles west of the fire, said the Fire and Police departments were monitoring the blaze because some residents anxiously watched the orange glow and the smoke rise in the distance.

“The police department has deployed additional officers to specific locations in the city to monitor the situation and be ready for immediate assistance if an evacuation is needed,” the city told the a statement, adding that “this is not meant to shock.”

A plume of smoke could be seen across the border in Tijuana, Mexico, although the fire did not threaten to cross the international line, Cal Fire said. If that changes, Cal Fire says it has connections with its Mexican counterparts to help with firefighting efforts.

Officials estimate that the closest homes to the fire are in an industrial area along the border called Otay Mesa, about two miles southwest – a long way off, Captain Johnson said.

Crews were facing southwesterly winds of 25 miles per hour, according to Cal Fire.