Grade Fire Still Burning at 689 Acres as Heat Warning Grips the Desert
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The Grade Fire near Lake Henshaw remained active Monday morning at 689 acres with 15 percent containment, according to Cal Fire. The fire broke out Friday afternoon near Highway 76 northwest of Lake Henshaw in North County. Evacuation orders tied to the blaze were lifted overnight, and no injuries or structural damage have been reported; crews have moved into mop-up operations while the cause remains under investigation.
The Grade Fire is the latest addition to a sobering San Diego County fire season. Earlier blazes — the Border 6 Fire at 2,525 acres, the Mateo Fire at 1,377 acres, and the Tusil Fire at 820 acres — are all fully contained, but together they illustrate persistent pressure on firefighting resources. Statewide, Cal Fire's 2026 tally stands at 2,813 wildfires and roughly 82,633 acres burned.
An Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect for the San Diego County deserts, the Coachella Valley, and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning through 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the National Weather Service forecasting highs between 112 and 116 degrees in those areas. Coastal and urban San Diego is expected to see manageable conditions — mostly sunny, highs near 80 degrees, light southwest winds — but residents with family in inland and desert communities should confirm access to cooling. San Diego County's Cool Zone network provides locations and hours through the county's website and AlertSanDiego.