Flames engulfed a vehicle on Interstate 8 in the rural southeastern reaches of the San Diego area Monday and spread into adjacent brushy terrain, where it soon blackened hundreds of acres and prompted widespread evacuations.
The blaze erupted about 3:30 p.m. on the westbound side of the freeway, near McCain Valley Road in Jacumba, according to Cal Fire.
Over the next several hours, the blaze charred an estimate 714 open acres as firefighters battled the flames on the ground and aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters, the state agency reported.
The fire forced a closure of all westbound lanes on Interstate 8 in the area and led to evacuations of about 150 homes and De Anza Springs Resort, authorities said.
There were no reports of structural damage or injuries resulting from the fire, which had a potential of growing to upwards of 1,000 acres in size, according to Cal Fire.
Updated at 6:53 p.m. Monday, July 1, 2024
City News Service contributed to this article.
