Brushfire in Del Cerro proves stubborn
SAN DIEGO — Firefighters battled a stubborn blaze Saturday night in a canyon north of Interstate 8 near Adobe Falls Road in the Del Cerro area.
Two helicopters made 15 drops of fire-suppressing gel on the blaze, which grew to about 3 acres, officials said. The pilots used night-vision goggles. Homes near Adobe Falls Road and Adobe Falls Place were threatened, and firefighters were deployed in the neighborhood to protect structures. Embers drifted onto the roof of a nearby house but were extinguished quickly and did little damage. The blaze began about 6 p.m. Crews quickly knocked down the blaze, but it continued to flare up for several hours in deep vegetation. “It's difficult terrain,” said Maurice Luque, spokesman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. “It's hard for crews to get in there.” Several motorists pulled into the emergency lane along Interstate 8 to take pictures and watch the blaze, according to the the California Highway Patrol. The fire is under investigation and is of suspicious origin, Luque said. There is a homeless camp in the canyon, he said. About 45 firefighters worked on the blaze. In addition to the helicopters, two battalion chiefs, eight engine companies, three brush rigs and three fire investigators were among personnel and equipment that responded. |
