Children started a fire that tore through a canyon, burning extremely close to homes in Carmel Valley Friday night, firefighters said.
“Me and my girls were at the house. My neighbor came pounding on my door,” said Janet McMahon. “I look around and the flames were just coming up the fence.”
The canyon is located in Carmel Valley just off Pearlman Way in between Del Mar Heights Road and Highway-56.
“ I was really, really concerned,” resident Sarah Howard said. “There are canyons around here so it's definitely something to be afraid of.”
Officials said two 12 year olds, who were playing with fireworks, caused the fire. Firefighters were suspicious from the start.
“We've had two fires in this area of town in the last two days,” Perry Peake with San Diego Fire and Rescue said.
In moments, the flames spread just feet away from several homes.
“I just saw a cloud of smoke over at my neighbor's house,” Shannon said.
“We got here and it was like black stuff everywhere,” resident Trevor Howard said.
Some residents decided to evacuate on their own.
“It was very scary. Kind of a flashback from a few years ago from the big fires,” McMahon said.
Before the flames reached any homes, firefighters were able to get a handle on the fire.
“Firemen came and pulled through for us. This is the closest we’ve ever had a fire, Sarah Howard said.
No one was hurt and no structures were damaged.
The 12 year olds will not face any charges. Instead, they'll go through counseling at the burn Institute.
