As dry, windy conditions across San Diego County have kept residents and firefighters on edge over the potential for dangerous wildfires, some have raised concerns about fires started in and around encampments.
In El Cajon Wednesday morning, firefighters responded to Forester Creek, under Ballantyne Street just north of Interstate 8, for a fire started by a person living in an encampment in the area to keep warm.
“Even though we do have these Santa Ana winds from primarily the east, northeast, we also have some pretty cold temperatures,” Heartland Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Todd Nelson said. “And when you have people that are homeless, and they’re trying to survive outside, they will do what they need to do to try and stay warm. Sometimes that involves lighting a fire and, as we know, in these conditions, fires like that could potentially spread.”…