(Fire crews save all structures)...The Evan Hewes Fire was first reported at around 6:30 Wednesday morning.
County Officials say a resident was burning in his yard, when the fire got out of control. County Fire was called. Crews spend over three hours bring the brush fire under control. Later in the day, at around 1:00 pm, the temperatures increased the humidity, lowered and the winds picked up, rekindeling the fire. County Fire returned to the scene and found the fire caught the brush at the river bottom, and spread toward Seeley. Roads were closed and eventually evacuations were ordered for residents from San Diego Avenue west. Between 80 and 100 families were evacuated first to Sunbeam Lake and then to Wilson Jr. High School in El Centro. Into the night the blaze turned into a 4 alarm fire and out of county assistance was called in Cal Fire from San Diego and a strike team from the city of San Diego responded. At just after mid-night, crews were able to save the structures in Seeley, and announced the fire was 40% contained. Over 226 acres had burned, but the fire was routed to the north of Seeley. The San Diego Crews were released at around 3:00 am. The roads were opened and the evacuations were lifted. IID had restored power to almost all of those affected. Deputy Chief Flores says County Fire is keeping an eye on the fire, and they anticipate flare ups once the wind picks up, the temperatures increase and the winds pick up.