Smoke from the so-called Border 2 Fire, which was blowing west and southwest in the direction of Otay Mesa, was visible for miles, reports NBC 7’s Todd Strain. A large vegetation fire began burning Thursday afternoon on a hilltop near the U.S.-Mexico border. As night fell, the flames cast an eerie glow across Otay Mountain.

A wildfire in the hills near the U.S.-Mexico border exploded early Friday morning over thousands of acres, triggering school closures and evacuation orders throughout the Otay Wilderness Area. The Border 2 fire has so far largely moved north and the evacuation area now extends a little beyond Otay Lakes Road.