Friday, 17 July 2026, 6:57
A wildfire dubbed the Thorn Fire erupted Wednesday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. near the 2500 block of Buckthorn Trail in Campo, a rural community in San Diego County. The fire quickly grew to 236 acres as of 5:40 p.m., prompting evacuation orders and warnings, and threatening nearby structures. Fire crews are working aggressively to contain the blaze, which is 0% contained, as conditions remain volatile. By 6:40 p.m., the fire had expanded to 699 acres and crossed Interstate 8, according to Cal Fire. The fire continues to burn at a moderate to dangerous rate of spread, posing an immediate threat to structures. As of 9:05 p.m., the fire had grown to 750 acres and remained 0% contained. The burn zone had been estimated at just 50 acres around 5 p.m., according to CalFire. The fire has now burned at least 1,201 acres, according to Cal Fire, and is 10% contained as of Thursday morning. The Thorn Fire was reported July 15 near 2500 Buckthorn Trail, close to Clover Trail. It expanded from an initial 8 to 10 acres to 50 acres and crossed Interstate 8 by 5 p.m., and was 0% contained by 9:45 p.m. It was 10% contained as of Thursday morning.
According to Watch Duty and local reports, evacuation orders were issued for areas north and south of I-8, west of Lost Valley Road and east of Manzanita and Cottonwood roads, along with Hubble Road. Evacuation warnings are in effect for an area southeast of the fire zone, another farther east and north of I-8, and a third extending north to the Carrizo Gorge Wilderness Study Area. A temporary evacuation point has been established at the Golden Acorn Casino, located at 1800 Golden Acorn Way. Fire officials have closed Interstate 8 in both directions near the burn area to ensure safe access for emergency vehicles and to protect motorists from smoke and fire activity. As of 6:49 p.m., specific evacuation zones were detailed: orders for zones SDC-2174, 2175, 2176, 2331, 2332, 2333, 2334, 2241, 2242, 2243, and 2244; warnings for zones SDC-2117, 2177, 2245, 2335, 2408, and 2410. Eastbound I-8 is closed at Crestwood Road and westbound I-8 at State Route 94/Ribbon Road for an unknown duration. Drivers are advised to use Old Highway 80 as an alternate route. The evacuation orders, which continued to expand as the fire grew rapidly in the evening, include areas north and south of I-8, bounded roughly on the west where Old Highway 80 meets I-8, extending to the northeast along Williams Road, and beyond McCain Valley Road to Tule Lake. Streets within the evacuation zone include Williams, Live Oaks Trail, Clements Street, High Pass Road, Lilac Lane, Manzanita and Cottonwood roads, Ribbonwood Boulevard, Ribbonwood Road, Angel Drive, Roadrunner Lane and Rocky Knoll Road. In addition, some evacuation warnings were upgraded to orders, one to an area southeast of the fire zone, reaching state Route 94, and another farther east and north of I-8. Other evacuation warnings have been issued, all to the north, approaching the Carrizo Gorge Wilderness Study Area, and northeast of the fire’s flashpoint along I-8. There is also a smoke advisory for areas around Live Oak Springs, Boulevard, Tierra Del Sol and McCain Valley. The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District has issued a smoke advisory for areas around Boulevard, Live Oak Springs, McCain Valley and Tierra Del Sol. Residents in those areas are advised to limit outdoor activity due to unhealthy air quality.
Firefighters are deploying a multi-pronged attack, including water-dropping helicopters, fixed-wing air tankers dropping retardant, bulldozers constructing fire breaks, and hand crews on the ground. The terrain is difficult, and dry brush, extreme heat (mid-90s to over 100°F in inland valleys and mountains, up to 113°F in desert communities), and gusty winds are contributing to erratic fire behavior. The National Weather Service issued an extreme-heat warning in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday. Incident commanders requested 10 engines, four hand crews, two bulldozers, two additional air tankers, and a helicopter, according to Watch Duty. Officials caution that containment percentages and acreage figures may change rapidly as conditions evolve. Firefighters will work overnight, continuing to build and strengthen containment lines while night flying helicopters work to extinguish hot spots from the air. Cooler overnight temperatures are expected to support firefighting efforts however, gusty winds in some areas continue to challenge containment. Three night flying helicopters will continue water dropping operations throughout the night, taking advantage of cooler temperatures and higher humidity to slow fire spread and support firefighters on the ground. The fire continues to burn to the east past Ribbonwood Road, toward McCain Valley Road. Over 90 pieces of fire equipment and more than 600 firefighters are engaged in fire suppression efforts, according to Cal Fire.
Firefighters made good progress overnight, successfully stopping the fire’s forward spread. Night flying helicopters played a critical role in slowing the fire’s spread by making continuous water drops on active fire throughout the night, providing firefighters with valuable opportunities to strengthen containment efforts. As of 6:22 a.m. Thursday, the Thorn Fire is now 10% contained and the forward rate of progress has been stopped. Crews will continue strengthening containment lines, extinguishing hotspots, and improving containment throughout the day. While fire activity has decreased, residents should continue to stay informed and monitor fire updates.
Campo, located in eastern San Diego County near the U.S.-Mexico border, is a small unincorporated community surrounded by chaparral and grassland. The Thorn Fire poses a direct threat to rural homes and infrastructure. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office and Cal Fire are coordinating evacuations and response. About 130 San Diego Gas & Electric customers near Live Oak Springs were without power as of 3:43 p.m., with service expected to be restored by 9 p.m. Residents are urged to monitor official alerts and prepare to leave immediately if ordered.
As of 11:31 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, some evacuation orders have been lifted. Residents in zones SDC 2241-B, SDC 2174, and SDC 2331-B are allowed to return. Officials continue to monitor conditions and may adjust evacuation statuses as needed.
San Diego County has a history of destructive wildfires, particularly in its eastern backcountry. The 2023 Border 32 Fire and the 2020 Valley Fire are recent reminders of the region's vulnerability during dry, windy conditions. The Thorn Fire is the latest in a series of early-season blazes fueled by drought-parched vegetation. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Residents in affected zones should follow evacuation orders without delay. Prepare an emergency kit with medications, documents, and essentials. Keep vehicles fueled and ready. Avoid driving through smoke or closed roads. Stay tuned to local news and official alerts from Cal Fire and the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services. Use Genasys Protect at protect.genasys.com or its mobile app to monitor real-time emergency alerts and understand evacuation zones.
