Mid-May was marked by a period of very hot, dry and windy conditions. This included an unusually strong Santa Ana wind event with a 1036 mb surface high over the northern Great Basin. Wind speeds were as high as 40-45 mph in SW California and 60 to 80 mph in the foothills and mountains. Over the course of four days, 8 major fires raged across San Diego County due to various causes. Several other smaller brush fires, including the Freeway Fire (56 acres near Naval Weapons Station on Camp Pendleton). At one point on the 15th, 9 fires were burning at once, many in and around residential/populated areas of north San Diego County. In total, these fires burned just under 27,000 acres, causing over $50 million in property damage and the cost to fight the fires themselves. Only minor injuries were reported and no deaths directly attributed to the fires.

Wildfire in SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS, CALIFORNIA
From 14-MAY-14 11:12:00 to 16-MAY-14 17:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The River Fire broke out at 1112 PST on the 14th, in Oceanside, starting in the San Luis Rey River riverbed. Homes and an elementary school in the area were evacuated. The Oceanside Unified School District closed all schools on the 15th. On the evening of the 16th, the fire was 100% contained, after it had burned 105 acres of land, confined to the river bed. A man was arrested on the 15th and charged with arson, after witnesses saw him adding brush to the flames, but authorities do not believe he started the fire. Official cause is still unknown.

Wildfire in SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS, CALIFORNIA
From 14-MAY-14 12:00:00 to 15-MAY-14 17:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 1.12M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The Highway Fire, near Bonsall and Fallbrook, started at 1200 PST on the 14th near Interstate 15 and California State Route 76, near Old Highway 395 in the Deer Springs area. Several schools and about 600 residents were evacuated. Olive Hill Road was closed from Mission to Highway 76 due to wildfire, evacuating the Olive Hill area.  Highway 15 was also closed in both directions, along with old 395/Highway 76. By 1700 PST on the 15th, the fire was 100% contained, after burning 441 acres. No homes were damages or destroyed and no injuries reported. The heavy fuels in this area had not burned since the Gopher Canyon Fire in 1970. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Wildfire in SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS, CALIFORNIA
From 15-MAY-14 13:45:00 to 21-MAY-14 14:45:00 (PST-8)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The Pulgas Fire broke out around 1345 PST on the 15th at Camp Pendleton near Interstate 5 at Las Pulgas Road, to the north of Oceanside. Las Pulgas Area personnel were ordered to evacuate to the School of Infantry Parade deck behind the mess hall. The fire burned 500 acres acres within the next couple of hours. It became the largest of the fires, burning a total of 15,000 acres before being fully contained on the afternoon of the 21st. Road closures included the Las Pulgas gate closed to all traffic except emergency vehicles, Stuart Mesa Road north of Assault Craft Unit-5, Basilone Road from Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton to Camp Horno, as well as Las Pulgas Road.

Wildfire in SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS, CALIFORNIA
From 16-MAY-14 10:24:00 to 20-MAY-14 22:00:00 (PST-8)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The Combat or San Mateo Fire (previously known as the Talega Fire), started around 1024 PST on the 16th near the Camp Talega area of the base, near Basilone Road. By the mid-afternoon, the fire had burned about 25 acres. All non-essential personnel were ordered to be sent home. Evacuation orders were given to personnel in nearby areas of the base including some housing facilities and a school. By the 17th, the fire had grown to 800 acres and was 25% contained. Very late at night on the 20th, the San Mateo Fire was reported 100% contained after burning a total of 1500 acres. The cause of the wildfire is still under investigation. No injuries reported.

Wildfire in SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS, CALIFORNIA
From 14-MAY-14 08:45:00 to 18-MAY-14 17:00:00 (PST-8)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The Tomahawk Fire started on the 14th around 0845 PST on the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Detachment Fallbrook (also known as Fallbrook Naval Weapons Station). The Tomahawk Fire was the second largest of the San Diego County fires in terms of size, behind the Pulgas Fire. Evacuation orders were issued for several schools and housing areas, as well as the Fallbrook Naval Weapons Station and the closed San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. During the evening of the 18th, the fire was reported to be 100% contained after burning a total of 5400 acres. No injuries reported.

Wildfire in SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS, CALIFORNIA
From 14-MAY-14 15:00:00 to 22-MAY-14 17:30:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 5.70M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The Cocos Fire, previously known as the Twin Oaks Fire and later the Washingtonia Fire, was a wildfire that ignited around 1730 PST on the 14th in the hills south of California State University, San Marcos and burned 400 acres by later in the evening. Flames were reported near homes, and the southeastern part of the city was ordered evacuated. By the morning of the 15th, the Cocos Fire was the top priority for county firefighters. The Cocos Fire quickly spread into western Escondido with a big flare up near noon that day; then the sea breeze took replaced the Santa Ana, pushing the fire back toward the east with thick smoke on I-15 and additional evacuations in Escondido. It grew overnight to 800 acres and was only 5% contained.
Road closures/evacuations included:  Del Dios highway from Via Rancho Parkway to Rancho Drive, evacuating the Del Dios community; Mt. Israel Road, Harmony Grove Road from Elfin Forest to Kauana Loa Drive, Country Club Road to Kauana Loa Drive, Twin Oaks Road in San Marcos; San Elijo Hills evacuated as well. All schools in the San Marcos Unified School District were closed on the 15th and 16th. California State University, San Marcos, was evacuated on the 14th, along with the surrounding neighborhoods, in the midst of administering spring finals, and remained closed for the rest of the week. Additionally, commencement exercises scheduled for the weekend were also cancelled. Palomar College also closed the 15th and 16th, and postponed its commencement ceremonies until the following week.  At 1730 PST on the 22, the Cocos Fire was reported to be 100% contained after torching 1.995 acres. The fire destroyed more than 40 buildings, including 12 single family homes, and damaging at least 2 other homes. The Harmony Grove Spiritualist Association, a 13-acre spiritualist retreat founded in 1896, was particularly hard hit with most of the buildings and residences (22 structures) on the property destroyed. Property damage from the fire is estimated at more than $5.7 million. Three minor injuries have been reported. On July 9, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said that they believe the Cocos Fire was intentionally set by a juvenile, who is now scheduled to appear in juvenile court.

Wildfire in SAN DIEGO COUNTY COASTAL AREAS, CALIFORNIA
From 14-MAY-14 09:30:00 to 17-MAY-14 16:00:00 (PST-8)
Property damage: 22.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The Poinsettia Fire started on the 14th, around 0930 PST, in the city of Carlsbad,  near the intersection of Poinsettia Lane and Alicante. After the fire burned through dry brush and crossed El Camino Real, evacuation orders were issued to 11,600 homes and businesses in Carlsbad, as well as two elementary schools and a middle school. By the end of the day on the 14th, the fire had destroyed eight homes, an 18-unit condominium complex, and two commercial buildings. Three other homes sustained minor damage. The Carlsbad Unified School District closed all schools May 15th and 16th. The Encinitas school district, which straddles Carlsbad, was closed both days as well. At 1600 PST on the 14th, the fire covered more than 400 acres, threatening additional structures. Early on the 16th, the fire had burned 400 acres and was 85% contained. As a result, all of the evacuation orders were lifted. The fire was reported to be 100% contained by 1600 PST on the 17th, after reaching a size of 600 acres. The Poinsettia Fire was the most destructive of the San Diego County wildfires. It caused property damage estimated at $22.5 million. As of July 10, 2014, the cause of the fire is still listed as undetermined. A body was also discovered in the fire damage near a transient encampment, but the cause of death has not been attributed to the fire.

Wildfire in SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS, CALIFORNIA
From 13-MAY-14 09:45:00 to 17-MAY-14 08:15:00 (PST-8)
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

The Bernardo Fire started on May 13, at 10:00 AM PDT, just south of Del Norte High School, in a construction trench off Nighthawk Lane and Camino San Bernardo. Over the next few hours the wildfire intensified due to the strong Santa Ana winds driving it southward. This prompted the evacuation of several schools (with the exception of Del Norte High School), in addition to at least 20,000 homes. Within several hours, the fire covered at least 800 acres. The rapid southward spread of the fire caused mandatory evacuation orders to be issued for portions of 4S Ranch, Del Sur, Black Mountain Ranch, Rancho Santa Fe, and other residential communities. Late on May 13, the Bernardo Fire reached a size of 1,600 acres. By 2300 PST on the 13th, the portion of the fire within 4S Ranch and Del Sur had been completely extinguished. Later on the 14, all of the evacuation orders were lifted for that area. By the morning of the 15th, the fire was 75% contained and no longer expanding. On the 16th, the Bernardo Fire was reported to be 90% contained, but some structures were still threatened by the fire. The Bernardo Fire was reported 100% contained on the 17th at 1915 PST, burning a total of 1548 acres. The San Diego Unified School District closed all its schools citywide on May 15, but reopened most of them on May 16. The cause of the Bernardo Fire was ruled accidental; starting in a small trench being dug by a construction crew and spread rapidly through the dry brush at the site. In all, 50 structures were threatened, and 3 unknown injuries per Cal Fire.