Evacuation orders lifted near San Diego as wildfire grows

SAN DIEGO, May 14 (UPI) -- Firefighters used a combined air and ground attack to save hundreds of homes from a wind-driven wildfire near San Diego.

By Wednesday morning, the fire had doubled in size and was only 25 percent contained. But evacuation orders issued Tuesday for 20,000 homes in San Diego County were lifted by the end of the day.

The fire was reported Tuesday morning in brush near Rancho Bernardo. It had spread to 800 acres by late afternoon and to more than 1,500 acres by Wednesday.

Helicopters and airplanes dropped water, and firefighters cut lines to keep the blaze away from houses.

Fire officials said they hoped to have the blaze 50 percent contained by the end of Wednesday.