A small fire broke out Saturday east of state Route 163 and firefighters had the flames surrounded, only to see them jump their containment, officials said.
Crews remained on scene into the evening with plans to stay longer as a precaution.
“It looks like we’re going to have units there all night,” a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department official said. “It ended up very deep-seated and very stubborn.”
The blaze was reported at 1:50 p.m. Saturday in vegetation around 1212 Johnson Ave. in University Heights according to SDFD.
Crews arrived just over three minutes later and stopped the fire, at the foot of Vermont Street, by 2 p.m. It had burned up to a quarter of an acre.
But SDFD called a first alarm an hour later when the flames again became worrisome. Two helicopters joined the firefighting effort, along with six engines, three brush rigs, two medics and a hand crew.
A department official said there were no injuries.
Officials said 67 personnel were on the scene, and a fire investigator has been assigned. City of Poway firefighters assisted SDFD.
Another vegetation fire, at 7505 Volclay Drive in San Carlos, was first reported after 3:30 p.m. and soon contained. SDFD wrapped up operations there just over an hour later.
Updated 7:10 p.m. April 26, 2025
City News Service contributed to this report.
