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Five acre brush fire threatened Rancho Bernardo neighborhood

A brush fire along interstate 15 threatened a nearby neighborhood, forcing evacuations.

SAN DIEGO —

People living in Rancho Bernardo are back home Monday evening after a brush fire forced people to evacuate in a matter of minutes. A brush fire along Interstate 15 sparked around 3 p.m. Monday, threatening a nearby community in Caminito Cantilena. 

“My wife called me that there’s a fire right behind us so I got out and when I looked up it’s in back of our house,” Rancho Bernardo Resident, Mel Cloma said. 

Cloma is one of several residents who had just a couple of minutes to grab their belongings and get out.  

“I just put everything there [that was] important … files, our documents, and some computers everything there is mixed up,” Cloma said.  

In two suitcases, Cloma packed his family valuables and headed to Escondido while fire crews both on air and on the ground worked to put out the flames. Evacuations were lifted at about 4:45 p.m. Monday afternoon.  

“We just did our best to grab what we need and just go, go, go,” Rancho Bernardo Resident Alton Harbaugh said. 

Alton Harbaugh was also evacuated; he was out having lunch when the fire started. He rushed home to get his cat as soon as he could.  

“It’s an adrenaline rush but then once that takes a split second to kind of get on over and then you have to prioritize what’s important to you in life right there,” Harbaugh said. 

As Santa Ana winds continue into Tuesday morning in some areas, many residents in Rancho Bernardo are preparing for potential wildfires. Harbaugh hopes community members are prepared for any potential situation. 

“Keep all your stuff prepped and ready to go to be honest with you because you don’t know what those coals and ambers up on the hillside, what may happen,” Harbaugh said. 

Fire crews remained in the brush fire area for several hours to put out any hot spots.  

 

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