The brush fire burning near Mount Laguna has grown to 4,700 acres as of Tuesday morning, Cal Fire confirmed.
Eight structures have been damaged or destroyed in the Chariot Fire and officials believe that number may rise as their assessment teams survey the area scorched Monday. More than 120 homes were still threatened.
Officials have announced mandatory evacuations for residents along Sunrise Highway from State Route 79 to Old Highway 80. See Cal Fire Incident Map
Cal Fire estimates the Chariot Fire is about 15-percent surrounded. There are 1677 firefighters fighting the fire Tuesday. That number was an increase of 300 from Monday's crew total.
Winds calmed down overnight according to fire crews. NBC 7 Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh said the weather was cooperating for firefighters today offering 66-degrees and 8 mph winds in the Mount Laguna area.
Check Chariot Fire Information Page
Fire broke out around 1 p.m. Saturday at Chariot Canyon Road and Oriflamme Canyon Road, about nine to 10 miles southeast of Julian, just east of Sunrise Highway.
The fast-moving wildfire in the remote location proved difficult for firefighters to get a handle on. The boundaries of the fire grew quickly Monday as the winds from the desert floor collided with those from the ocean causing erratic conditions.
El Prado, Horse Heaven and Laguna Campgrounds have already been evacuated as well as the Al Bahr Shrine Camp and the Foster Lodge.
Al Bahr Shriners camp took a direct hit from the fire with reports of propane tanks exploding on the property.
Deborah Chandler, a member at Mount Laguna Al Bahr Shriners Camp told NBC 7 that 23 buildings and 80 trailer structures there have been destroyed.
San Diego County Office of Emergency Services
The evacuation order encompasses roughly 160 homes that Cal Fire says are mainly seasonal homes. Only 35 people have had to leave their homes so far.
Elizabeth Bispo, her husband Al and their dog, Buster were among the evacuees.
"As a Red Cross volunteer I'm out at national disasters, all the time, just came back from Oklahoma, the tornadoes," said Bispo.
She was told to grab her belongings and head down the mountain.
"We took some favorite things out of the cabin, some special things and if it burns it burns, but we're hoping it will be spared," she said.
Among the civilian holdouts was Tom McWay, owner of the Laguna Mountain Lodge.
"I packed up some of the artifacts from the Mountain, tried to save some of that," he said.
Family Disaster Plan Checklist
An evacuation center has been established at the Joan McQueen Middle School at 2001 Tavern Rd. in Alpine by the San Diego chapter of the American Red Cross.
“If you live in that area and you see smoke, be ready and have that plan,” said Cal Fire Capt. Mike Mohler. “We ask that if you decide to leave, do so early - not only for public safety but for the first responders in that area."
Four people have been injured fighting the fire.
The cause is under investigation.
Estimated total containment as of Tuesday morning was July 14, according to Mohler.
View Chariot Fire in a larger map
Photo Credit: NBC 7 San Diego