Forest fire burns almost 200 acres in Cleveland National Forest
Jul 31, 2026
What to KnowAcres: Forward progress stopped at 175All evacuation orders and warnings lifted. For a map, click hereTemporary evacuation point: 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way in Valley CenterRoad closures: East Grade Road at Highway 76
A wildfire spread through Cleveland National Forest near Lake Hensha
w Friday afternoon, blackening dozens of acres and prompting evacuation orders, warnings and closing a highway in the rural area for several hours.
By about 8:45 p.m. firefighters had stopped forward progress of the flames at 175 acres, according to the Watch Duty app. Evacuation orders and warnings had been issued for areas around the fire, but all were lifted a few hours later at about 9 p.m. For a map of those areas, click here.
The fire, dubbed the Grade Fire, erupted about 1:30 p.m. Friday off the 25700 block of East Grade Road, north of state Route 76 and just west of Lake Henshaw in Santa Ysabel, according to Cal Fire.
The Grade Fire had closed East Grade Road at Highway 76 to all vehicle traffic, except emergency personnel.
A temporary evacuation point has been set up at 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way in Valley Center.
Ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters attacked the flames, which were moving to the northeast, federal forestry officials reported.
It was not immediately clear what sparked the blaze.
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