A wildfire ripped through five acres of brush in Santee Tuesday morning, leaving behind blackened terrain that made for a compelling visual from above.
Firefighters in their bright yellow uniforms could be seen hosing down hot spots at around 11 a.m. from the blaze that sparked in a field at Mission Gorge Road and West Hills Parkway about a half-hour earlier.
Video captured by the NBC 7 news helicopter showed the stark contrast between the yellow uniforms and the dark, scorched Earth.
Heartland Fire-Rescue Department officials said crews were able to surround the fire and knock it down quickly. A helicopter helped from above, while crews from Santee Fire, Lakeside, El Cajon, San Diego and Viejas also assisted on the ground. Firefighters planned to remain at the scene for a while monitoring for flare-ups and mopping up hot spots.
No one was hurt in the fire, and no structures were damaged. The cause of the brush fire is under investigation. Santee Fire officials said a preliminary indicates the fire may have been caused by landscaping work being done in the area.
The temperature in Santee was around 84 degrees at the time the fire sparked. The inland community in San Diego’s East County is prone to intense heat and heightened fire dangers in summer months.
Just before 12:30 p.m., the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) said westbound Mission Gorge Road was closed at West Hills Parkway as crews continued to clean up the fire area. Motorists were advised to used alternate routes.
By 1:15 p.m., the roads had reopened.
