Crews make progress in containing bushfire in Del Mar area

SAN DIEGO (KGTV/CNS) – A suburban wildfire that charred nearly 20 open acres near the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, forcing thousands from their homes as ground crews and aerial workers were working to put out the flames, was almost extinguished on Wednesday.

According to San Diego Fire and Rescue officials, the fire – which did not damage any structures – charred 23 acres but was 50% contained as of Wednesday morning.

Although no injuries were reported, SDFD officials said two crew members were taken to the hospital due to heat exhaustion, but both have since been released.

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Torrey Pines State Preserve Park staff told ABC 10News that all of its trails and extensions are closed until further notice.

Del Mar residents said they found little or no evidence of the fire.

Kyle Johnson, a Del Mar resident, was seen on his morning run near the trail entrance Wednesday and said his lungs felt good.

“A lot of offshore and onshore wind power was pushing things in that direction,” Johnson said. “It’s really nice, it’s surprising.”

Dan Bodenheimer, who lives at the foothills of the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserves on Del Mar Scenic Parkway, said he felt safe leaving his house Wednesday morning, compared to other fires he has experienced here in Del Mar.

“In 2007 or 2004, we were evacuated,” Bodenheimer said. “There was a fire in Corridor 56 that freaked me out. If you’re in a fire situation and ash is falling on your house, it’s time to go.”

However, after Tuesday's fire, no trace of ash was visible on the streets. In comparison, the ground at the trailhead was covered in ash.

Lines of fire, smoke stains and charred plants were visible everywhere.

Gregory Szmania was at the trailhead Tuesday taking video and took 10News to the same spot where he filmed a tree catching fire.

“All of a sudden I saw the Torrey Pines tree burning at the base, and it started from nothing and erupted and went up the trunk,” Szmania said.

Szmania said Wednesday morning that the trace of the fire he saw was that of fire retardant on a car.

“It was pretty crazy. They were flying over my unit,” Szmania said.

San Diego firefighters are still investigating the cause of the fire.

The fire broke out shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday near the intersection of Carmel Valley Road and Del Mar Scenic Parkway, at the site of an approximately 1-acre wildland fire that crews had previously brought under control. early today, according to San Diego Police and the San Diego Fire and Rescue Department.

As firefighters battled the reignited blaze, authorities evacuated some 2,500 people from homes east of North Torrey Pines Road, north of Carmel Valley Road, south of Del Mar Heights Road and west of Interstate 5. About 1,500 other residents were asked to prepare to leave their neighborhood as soon as possible.

A temporary shelter for displaced people was operational late afternoon at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Shortly after 7 p.m., all evacuation orders were lifted; nearly 90 minutes later, all road closures associated with the fire were lifted.

As of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, ground crews and personnel aboard an air tanker and three water-broadcast helicopters had stopped the fire from spreading to approximately 19 acres, according to SDFRD public affairs.

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