SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) - Fire crews were able to stop two separate brush fires in Mountain View Saturday afternoon before they damaged nearby homes.
Investigators are calling the fires "suspicious."
The two fires popped up just blocks from each other around 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
The first moved quickly through a canyon and threatened several homes.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and National City Fire Department crews were called to a fire at 284 S. 46th Street between Imperial Avenue and Ocean View Boulevard, west of Interstate 805 at around 3:49 p.m. Three homes were threatened.
The fire started in a canyon adjacent to homes on the street, according to SDFD PIO Monica Munoz. The forward spread was stopped with the help of several engines and a helicopter making drops, and crews continued to douse hot spots with water.
Munoz said the backyards of three homes were burned along with some sheds and surrounding fences, but there was no damage to the structures.
"It was fast- really, really fast," said Julio Herndez who lives in one of the three homes with backyards that burned. "I couldn't call 911. I started to fight the fire with my hose."
Investigators are looking at whether the fire originated from a homeless encampment located in the canyon.
While making air drops, the helicopter spotted a second, fast-spreading fire about a mile south near southbound I-805 and Palm Avenue at about 4:15. The fire burned about a half-acre of land before being put out and crews are working on mopping it up.
"They are both suspicious at this time and that's something that's very unusual to happen, so that's what we will be investigating ," said Battalion Chief Rick Ballard.