Del Mar Heights fire: Evacuation orders lifted

Christy Simeral and Jaime Chambers

9 hours ago

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — It was fire coming back from the dead. A blast of wind and a single ember ignited Del Mar Heights' beloved hiking trails hours after a fire had already been extinguished.

A wind-driven brush fire reignited in Del Mar Heights Tuesday afternoon, prompting nearby residents to evacuate their homes. This evacuation order has since been lifted.

Firefighters were called back to battle the dangerous wind and fuel blaze at Torrey Pines State Park.

The fire broke out around 10:30 a.m. north of Del Mar Scenic Parkway, and crews quickly stopped the fire, according to the San Diego Department of Fire and Rescue.

But the flames reignited around 3 p.m. when a spot fire broke out outside the containment lines, SDFD spokeswoman Mónica Muñoz said at an afternoon news conference.

The fire was burning in the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve area, sending a plume of smoke across Interstate 5.

The canyons were engulfed in smoke and flames. Aerial helicopters lined up to push back the head of the fire, and hand crews hunkered down.

Around 5:30 p.m., the pace of progression had stopped, the SDFD said. The fire was estimated at 19 acres and was 5% contained.

About 2,500 residents were ordered to evacuate for several hours Tuesday as crews worked to fight the fire. The evacuation warning affected about 1,400 people, according to Muñoz.

This evacuation order and warning for affected residents was lifted Tuesday at 7:15 p.m.

Muñoz said the dense undergrowth of the terrain, combined with offshore winds, made firefighting difficult. Planes and helicopters participated in the fight against the shooting.

Two firefighters were taken to a local hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion, Muñoz added. They are expected to recover.

The Del Mar Fairgrounds was set up as a temporary evacuation point.

Video below: Live coverage of crews battling a brush fire near Torrey Pines State Park

The Del Mar Heights Road and Carmel Valley Road off-ramps on Interstate 5 were closed due to the brush fire, Caltrans San Diego said. These ramps have reopened.

The San Diego Police Department reports that all road closures in the Del Mar Heights Fire Zone have been fully lifted.

Several firefighters intervened to put out the fire. Firefighters will remain on scene throughout the night and Wednesday to ensure no hot spots flare up again.