A two-acre brush fire started by a vehicle's catalytic converter shut down traffic on Interstate 5 in both directions for more than an hour Monday, causing delays and detours for drivers, San Diego Fire and Rescue said.
The fire was reported around 12:48 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
The California Department of Transportation reported that smoke was impairing visibility for drivers along the stretch of I-5 from Genesee Avenue to Sorrento Valley Road north of La Jolla.
At about 1:15 p.m., the highway was closed in both directions with southbound traffic diverted off I-5 at the merge onto Interstate 805. All lanes on I-5 between I-805 and state Route 52 were reopened at about 3:40 p.m.
SDFD had crews at the scene and used helicopter water drops. No structures were threatened.
By 3:15 p.m. the fire had been knocked down along southbound Interstate 5, past Genesee Avenue and east of Sorrento Valley Road.
Twitter user @KeenOffice sent images of the fire via Twitter saying "it spread really quick. You can see the water helicopter," and @inkograph posted "I can smell/see this at work."
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