Tecate Fire Brings Ash to Imperial Beach, South San Diego

Updated 1:45 p.m.

A fire near the U.S.-Mexico border and more than 40 miles away has brought ash to Imperial Beach and the South Bay.

At about 1:15 p.m., as reported by Monte Vista/CalFire, the fire reached 600 acres.

The vegetation fire is  1.5 miles south of the border.

Around that same time, San Diego Fire-Rescue Spokesman Maurice Luque realeased the following statement:

"There is a fire in Mexico south of Tecate Peak. Creating heavy smoke and ash. Copter 1 observed a heavy smoke and ash cloud moving well offshore. Residents of Imperial Beach report ash falling in their area. CalFire is continuing to monitor the situation but report that the fire is well south of the border."

Since ash began to fall late Wednesday morning, Imperial Beach Public Safety Department Management Analyst Dean Roberts said since 1:30 p.m., the IB Fire Department has received more than 30 calls, some from as far away as Coronado and National City.

"It's definitely not a good day for exertion of any kind, and if possible, especially if you have any respiration conditions, stay indoors," he said.

San Diego County has been on a red flag fire alert for much of the day as a result of low humidity, dry brush and Santa Ana winds reaching up to 50 mph in local mountains.

"You never know with these winds, they could get worse. They're fueling that fire as it goes," Roberts said.