Brush fire breaks out along I-5 in Chula Vista

CHULA VISTA (KUSI) — A brush fire broke out Tuesday morning in the Chula Vista area, temporarily shutting down an on-ramp to southbound Interstate 5.

A fire crew was dispatched to E St. and I-5 in Chula Vista around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday for a tree fire, according to Sean Lowery, Bt. Chief for the Chula Vista Fire Department. When crews arrived, the fire was bigger than initially thought, so additional crews were called in.

San Diego Gas & Electric was on scene as the fire was initially believed to be caused by a downed power line, Lowery said, but no power line was found. The cause remains under investigation but weather and homeless encampments in the area could have been factors, Lowery said.