Firefighters mop up in Center Fire. (Photo by Chris Stone / Times of San Diego) 
Water drop at Center Fire. (Photo by Chris Stone / Times of San Diego) 
Command center on Camino del Norte. (Photo by Chris Stone / Times of San Diego) 
Homes within sight of fire. (Photo by Chris Stone / Times of San Diego) 
Firefighters mop up in Center Fire. (Photo by Chris Stone / Times of San Diego) 
Water drop at Center Fire. (Photo by Chris Stone / Times of San Diego) 
Backup engines head to scene. (Photo by Chris Stone / Times of San Diego)
A brush fire threatened homes, forced evacuations – including an elementary school – and left one person injured in Rancho Bernardo Wednesday before crews took control of the flames.
The blaze erupted shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday near the intersection of Bernardo Center Drive and Camino Del Norte, west of Interstate 15, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
As of 11 a.m., ground crews and personnel aboard water-dropping helicopters had halted the spread of the flames, officials said. Authorities initially feared that the fire could grow to 100 acres.
CENTER FIRE UPDATE: A fast response by air units helped quickly contain the #CenterFire. Homes were threatened. Most evacuation orders lifted. 7 acres burn. Crews will be in the area through the afternoon/evening. Remember to always have a fire plan & be prepared to evacuate. pic.twitter.com/o9vaDj8j2a
— SDFD (@SDFD) January 22, 2025
Estimates placed the burn area at about seven acres. Firefighters had the blaze 25% contained by about 10:45 a.m. Over 175 firefighters from multiple agencies were on the scene, and helicopters were making water drops.
“One person transported to hospital with burn injuries. Structures are threatened. Evacuations imminent,” the agency said.
The fire was reported at 8:55 a.m. Officials said hand crews were working to cut a line around the fire, and other crews were staged to protect homes.
The San Diego Police department is currently assisting SDFD with a large fire in Rancho Bernardo near Camino Del Norte and the 15 Freeway
— San Diego Police Department (@SanDiegoPD) January 22, 2025
The areas in pink on the map above have continued ORDERS to evacuate at this time. Areas in Yellow are under evacuation WARNINGS. pic.twitter.com/Kk1cNcFvvs
The evacuation order was issued for an area just west of Interstate 15, with areas to the west of that under an evacuation warning. Among the evacuated sites was Rolling Hills Elementary School on Penasquitos Drive.
Evacuees were taken to a parking lot at 12080 Carmel Mountain Road , according to department officials.
The following roads were closed to the public:
- Interstate 15 at Camino Del Norte
- Bernardo Center and Camino Del Norte
- Paseo Montanoso at Avenida De Los Lobos and Camino Del Norte.
There were no reports of structural damage. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Updated at 2:15 p.m., Jan. 22, 2025
City News Service contributed to this report.
