Coches 2 Fire injures 2 and destroys 6 homes in Lakeside, California
A fast-moving wildfire erupted in Lakeside, San Diego County, California at around 15:00 LT on September 8, 2025, burning 2.1 ha (5.3 acres), destroying six mobile homes, and injuring two people before firefighters contained it overnight.
Smoke coming from the Coches 2 Fire near Lakeside, San Diego County, California on September 8, 2025
Coches 2 Fire started just before 15:00 LT on September 8 near Old Highway 8 and Los Coches Road, north of Interstate 8 in Lakeside, San Diego County, California. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), the blaze spread rapidly through dry vegetation in an area that had not burned for about five years.
Cal Fire confirmed that at least two people were injured, one suffered smoke inhalation and the other sustained burns. At least six units in a mobile home park in the area were also destroyed.
In total, the fire burned about 2.1 ha (5.3 acres). Firefighters managed to stop its forward progress within two hours and fully contained the fire overnight.
Evacuation orders were issued for areas north of Los Coches Road East, south and east of Highway 8 Business, and west of Via del Luz and Calleja Risa. Evacuation warnings extended into adjacent neighborhoods. By late afternoon, all orders were lifted as containment lines held.
A temporary evacuation point was set up at Viejas Casino in Alpine but closed once residents were allowed to return home.
The Lakeside Community Center at 9841 Vine Street provided shelter, food, and supplies, including accommodations for pets. Large animals were relocated to the Dianne Jacob Lakeside Equestrian Park.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Witnesses told local media that flames were first seen in grassland near Old Highway 8 adjacent to a roadside business, but officials have not confirmed the ignition source.
References:
1 Coches 2 Fire – Cal Fire – September 8, 2025
2 Coches Fire Final Update – Alert San Diego – September 8, 2025
Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.
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Why is it that every single news report on the fires said the cause of the fire is unknown. It’s under investigation. When, in fact, we know that most of these are caused by homeless encampments, the media is hiding the truth from the public. We seem to have fires every single day in Southern California. And never was like this..