San Diego

2-Acre Fire Burns Hillside in Tierrasanta

The fire off eastbound State Route 52 near Santo Road was surrounded by 10 a.m.

A fire sparked off State Route 52 in Tierrasanta Thursday, burning about two acres on a hillside off the freeway before being knocked down by firefighters.

The blaze began just before 9:30 a.m. in brush off eastbound SR-52 near the Santo Road exit and Mission Trails Regional Park. As crews battled the flames, California Highway Patrol temporarily shut down traffic to one lane so crews could have more space to work.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) Battalion Chief John Fisher said the fire was burning to the east, with light wind fueling it. About 30 firefighters worked together to tackle the flames.

"[Fire units] attacked the fire very quickly," said Fisher.

Fisher said an SDFD helicopter was in the area conducting some training, so the aircraft was able to change course and help with water drops, knocking down the head of the fire.

Within 25 minutes, crews had stopped the blaze from spreading, holding it to about two acres/

Firefighters remained at the scene mopping up hot spots and monitoring for flare-ups. 

No one was hurt in the fire; the cause is under investigation.

Fisher said that, while San Diego's Red Flag Warning expired Wednesday, fire dangers remain high. He said the rainy season helped fuel the growth of a lot of light brush, that, as he put it, is "ready to burn."

Meanwhile, more than 350 firefighters continued to battle the "Cristianitos Fire" Thursday, a brush fire that sparked Wednesday, scorching 700 acres on Camp Pendleton. The fire jumped the line into Orange County Thursday morning. At this point, it is 10 percent contained.

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