Brush fire southeast of Julian grows to 850 acres

Update, May 27, 9:30 p.m.—

The General Fire in San Diego County n the Banner Grade area, south of Highway 78 and east of Highway 79, southeast of Julian, has burned 900 acres and is 42 percent contained, Cal Fire reports this evening.

Original report—

Crews battling a brush fire that scorched about 850 acres southeast of Julian had the blaze about 20 percent contained this morning, fire officials said.

No structures were threatened by the General Fire, which was called in shortly after noon Sunday south of state Route 78 in the Banner Grade area, according to Cal Fire.

The fire was burning east toward uninhabited desert and away from homes, according to the state firefighting agency.

Cal Fire Capt. Mike Mohler said the blaze was separate from the San Felipe Fire, which blackened about 2,780 acres of desert north of Scissors Crossing, about 30 miles east of Julian. The San Felipe Fire was fully contained today.

The General Fire’s cause remained under investigation, Mohler said.

No injuries were reported, Cal Fire reported.