Cal Fire crews quickly extinguish Chaparral Fire in Santee

SANTEE (KUSI) – A brush fire blackened swaths of open land near the Carlton Hills neighborhood Wednesday afternoon, prompting evacuations and road closures but causing no reported structural damage or injuries.

The blaze erupted for unknown reasons about 1:30 p.m. off Chaparral Drive and Cuyamaca Street in Santee, according to sheriff’s officials.

Deputies blocked off sections of those two streets and cleared people out of homes along Dakota Ranch and Princess Joann roads as crews worked to subdue the fire by ground and aboard water-dropping helicopters, Lt. Glen Twyman said.

A shelter was established at nearby Santana High School for those temporarily displaced by the fire.

As of 2:30 p.m., firefighters were making good progress toward extinguishing the blaze, Twyman said.

By 4 p.m., crews had the spread of the flames halted at roughly 36 acres, Cal Fire reported. The personnel were expected to remain in the area for several more hours to douse hot spots and fully contain the smoldering burn area, according to the state agency.