By David Hernandez and Allison Sampite-Montecalvo
The San Diego Union-Tribune
PALA, Calif. — A Pala fire that scorched 45 acres earlier this week flared up Friday, forcing residents to evacuate once again and sending three more firefighters to hospitals.
The was 30 percent contained as of 10:30 p.m., Cal Fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser said.
Winds blew embers across the space firefighters had created between charred soil and brush that could catch fire again, sparking flames that burned 1 to 2 acres about 3:20 p.m. Within hours, the fire grew and burned 25 acres.
Helicopters and fire crews worked to put out the flames and stopped them from spreading by 6:30 p.m. Three firefighters were taken to hospitals with heat-related injuries.
Between 70 to 100 homes were threatened, and mandatory evacuations were in place for homes on the east side of Pala Temecula Road near Pala Mission Road, Bortisser said. Officials ordered evacuations for 53 contacts, sheriff’s officials said.
An evacuation center was set up at Great Oaks High School in Temecula, about three miles north of the burning area. Most residents were allowed to return to their homes about 9:30 p.m.
The blaze first ignited Tuesday in a two-story house on Pala Temecula Road north of state Route 76 shortly before 2 p.m. Flames spread to surrounding brush and took off.
About 100 residents were evacuated for several hours while hundreds of firefighters, and a host of firefighting aircraft worked to douse the fire. Three firefighters suffered minor burns to their feet as crews stopped the spread of the fire Wednesday. The three treated at hospitals, then released.
Seven old, unoccupied outbuildings were damaged.
Copyright 2016 The San Diego Union-Tribune