Update: This story has been updated to include new information.
Crews made progress Wednesday containing a brush fire near El Monte County Park that has blackened around 400 acres.
The blaze erupted for unknown reasons at about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday off the 15000 block of El Monte Road in Lakeside, according to Cal Fire.
“The main focus for crews today will be on hot spots near residential areas and the northeast side of the fire. Firefighters took advantage of the favorable weather that helped to decrease the spread,” Cal Fire Capt. Robert Johnson told City News Service.
“Some crews will have to be flown in by helicopter due to the remoteness of the area,” he said.
As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the blaze, dubbed the Monte Fire, was at 20% containment, Cal Fire reported.
No structural damage was reported, but two firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze, Johnson said.
As the flames spread to the east over rugged terrain below El Cajon Mountain, authorities cleared residents out of rural neighborhoods north of El Monte Road, east of Hazy Meadow Lane, south of Featherstone Canyon Road and northwest of El Capitan Reservoir.
A temporary shelter for the evacuees was in operation at the Walmart store on Camino Canada in El Cajon.
Lake Jennings Park Road at El Monte Road and Willow Road at Omas Road have been reopened to all drivers, the California Highway Patrol announced.
El Monte Road at Omas Road is open to residents only while Yucca Road at El Monte Road was open to emergency personnel only, according to the CHP.
There were 153 personnel assigned to the fire, including 25 engines, seven crews and two helicopters, fire officials said.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Monte Fire: Brush fire grows to 400 acres, 20% contained
Reporting by City News Service / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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