SAN DIEGO — A fire ignited in the College Area Thursday afternoon around 1:30 p.m. that spread quickly to nearly 40 acres close to homes. The fire began near Fairmount Avenue and Montezuma Road in San Diego. Firefighters were able to arrive quickly and battle the fire with several units on the ground and with water drops throughout the afternoon. As of 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, the fire was 25% contained.
The fire started in a canyon along Fairmount Avenue and Montezuma Road, according to CBS 8's Steve Price who was live on the scene. Residents in the Rolando and College Area neighborhoods reported ash falling from the sky.
The speedily spreading flames forced mandatory evacuations east of Montezuma Road, north of Monroe Avenue, south of Alvarado Canyon Road and west of Hewlett Drive. Among the affected locations were Talmadge-area neighborhoods along Lila, Lorraine and Lucille drives, as well as on Collwood Way, police said.
San Diego Fire reports six homes were damaged with no injuries.
Evacuations Lifted
All evacuation orders for the Montezuma fire near Grantville have been lifted as of 9:30 p.m.
Road closures
SDFD: Montezuma Road from Fairmount Avenue to Collwood Blvd. is expected to be closed through Friday. as crews continue to mop up and put out any hotspots.
WATCH: The day after drone video over the fire:
San Diego State University
"The San Diego Fire Department (SDFD) is responding to brush fire that is located off campus between Fairmount Avenue and Montezuma Road. The fire is located just southwest of campus. There is no threat to the campus community. University Police Department and SDFD are conducting proactive evacuations near the immediate area. Anticipate traffic delays and road closures. Be attentive to and follow directions provided by officials."
Weather Impact
San Diego has seen below-average levels of rain over the last few months. By this time in a normal October we would have half an inch of rain on the ground. That = dry brush.
Temperatures are mostly in the low 70s, which is below average, however, the sun is still out and that doesn’t help fire crews who could possibly get overheated.
Over the last several hours leading up to the fire, sustained winds have been between 5-10 mph. Gusts have been between 10-15 mph and in some cases closer to 20.
The westerly component of wind is good to have in that it’s not totally dry. We will likely see offshore (Santa Ana) winds into next week which will keep crews on high alert.
Watch: This is video shot on a rooftop at SDSU of the fire. Credit: Tanner Wederstrant
Cal Fire is assisting San Diego Fire-Rescue in battling the fire near the College area.
WATCH RELATED: How to know when it's time to go during a wildfire:
Prepare for a Wildfire evacuation
CalFire has built a list of things to have ready in case you and your family are evacuated during any wildfire or disaster.
Ensure your wildfire ‘Go Bag’ includes:
- A 3-day supply of non-perishable food & 3 gallons of water per person
- A map with at least 2 evacuation routes
- Necessary prescriptions or medications
- A change of clothes & extra eyeglasses/contact lenses
- Extra car keys, credit cards, cash, or traveler’s checks
- A first aid kit & sanitation supplies
- A flashlight & battery-powered radio with extra batteries
- Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.)
- Pet food & water
Always have sturdy shoes and a flashlight near your bed, ready for sudden night evacuations.
If time allows, consider adding:
- Valuables that are easy to carry
- Family photos and irreplaceable items
- Personal computer data on hard drives and disks
- Chargers for cell phones and laptops