Residents evacuated after five-alarm fire in Seeley

A smoky five-alarm fire erupted in the river bottom in Seeley by Rio Bend RV Park and Storms Crossing Saturday night.

The Imperial County Fire Department responded to the fire, receiving a call at about 11:15 p.m., and was joined by a strike team from San Diego County to include two units from San Miguel, Borona, Sycuan, and Lakeside, according to Imperial County Firefighter’s Association.

Fire officials are calling this the Rio Bend Fire, which has burned around 170 acres, stretching approximately two miles along the river from I-8 South.

Drew Road was closed due to the fire, no other roads were closed at the time.

At the highest point of the fire, approximately 30 engines were on scene battling the flames, according to fire officials.

Fire officials said that 500 people were evacuated. A shelter at the Seeley Elementary School was opened for those that were displaced by the blaze. Fire officials said that 117 out of the 500 accepted shelter through the Red Cross.

The fire has been contained, fire personnel are executing mop-up operations. Officials believe the fire was started by a haystack fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.