San Diego 2007 Wildfires - - Harris Fire

Last Updated: November 5, 2007 9:45 pm (FINAL)
Date/Time Started: October 21, 2007 9:23 am
Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE / San Diego County Operational Area
County: San Diego County
Location: Highway 94 and Harris Ranch Rd near Portrero
Acres Burned: 90,440 acres (see map)
Structures Destroyed: 253 residential structures, 2 commercial properties and 293 outbuildings were destroyed. 12 residential structures and 3 outbuildings were damaged.
Injuries: 40 firefighter injuiries have been reported. Five civilians have died and twenty-one injured directly due to this fire.
Cause: Under Investigation
Cooperating Agencies: San Diego County, Office of Emergency Services, California Highway Patrol, San Diego County Sheriff
Total Fire Personnel: 756
Fire crews: 15
Engines: 36
Helicopters: 3
Water tenders: 6
Costs to date: $21 million
Major Incident Command Team: Command of this incident has returned to the local unit.

Harris Fire as viewed from Potrero

Photo by Nancee E. Lewis/San Diego Union-Tribune
Harris Fire near Barrett Junction heading west from its starting point of Potrero (October 21, 2007)

Photo by Nancee E. Lewis/ San Diego Union-Tribune

Fire Crews repositioning on Otay Lakes Road (October 22, 2007)

Photo by Earnie Grafton (October 22, 2007)

Firefighter battles Harris Fire near Thousand Trails RV Park on Hwy 94

Photo By Jim McVeigh
Harris Fire lights up Otay Lakes (Otober 23, 2007)

Photo by Nelvin Cepeda/San Diego Union-Tribune
Firefighters from Ventura work blaze near Honey Springs Road in Jamul (October 24, 2007)

Photo by K.C. Alfred/San Diego Union-Tribune
Harris Fire burns near Lyons Valley (October 26, 2007)

Interagency State Burned Area Response (BAER) Report (2007, November 20)
Western face of Lyons peak following the Harris Fire

Photos by John Gibbins/San Diego Union-Tribune
Retardant dropping helicopters working above Lyons Valley (October 26, 2007)

Interagency State Burned Area Response (BAER) Report (2007, November 20)
View of some of the burn area from Mt. Miguel (looking West)

Interagency State Burned Area Response (BAER) Report (2007, November 20)

Burned riparian woodland habitat favored by Bell's least vireo

near Sweetwater Reservoir

Interagency State Burned Area Response (BAER) Report (2007, November 20)

Burned Coastal sage scrub habitat favored by California gnatcatcher

near Sweetwater Reservoir

Photo Credits:

Alfred, K.C. (2007). Select photographs of Harris Fire. San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2007 from SignOnSanDiego http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/southcounty?page=1

Interagency State Burned Area Response (BAER) Report. (2007, November 20). Select Harris Fire photographs. (CA-MVU-010427).

Cepeda, N. (2007). Select photographs of Harris Fire. San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 4, 2007 from

Gibbins, J. (2007). Select photographs of Harris Fire. San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2007 from http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/southcounty?page=2

Grafton, E. (2007). Harris Fire. San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved November 27, 2007 from http://photos.signonsandiego.com/gallery1.5/071021potrerofire?page=2

Harris Fire from Potrero. Retrieved December 27, 2007 from http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/10/29/18456914.php

Lewis, N.E. (2007). Select photograph of Harris Fire. San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 2, 2007 from http://signonsandiego.lamphost.net/southcounty and http://photos.signonsandiego.com/gallery1.5/071021potrerofire?page=2

McVeigh, J. (2007). Select phtotgrapgh of Harris Fire. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 7, 2007 from