People living in last week’s Fairmount Fire area are thankful the winds were calm, especially since Santa Ana winds are forecast for later this week.
A San Diego Fire Rescue spokesperson said the fire was contained on Monday at one hundred percent, but the cause was under investigation.
James Dalessio has lived in Talmadge Estates for thirty years. He and his wife were heading home Thursday afternoon when they saw the fire from the freeway.
“There was a wall of flames, and the smoke was billowing, and it was sort of burning, looked like the northeast,” said Dalessio.
“I took pictures, and it was just very chilling. A lot of our neighbors were starting to realize there was going to be a significant problem here,” said Dalessio.
He said the fire department response was impressive.
“We should have lost our house. There’s not reason for them to have been able to save these homes,” said Dalessio.
Firefighters saved every home, but the flames reached Dalessio’s doorstep.
“The fire came so close it actually burned our welcoming mat, which is sobering,” said Dalessio.