Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
A rapid moving fire sparked in the College Area off Fairmount & Montezuma Roads Thursday around 1:30 p.m.
San Diego Fire-Rescue posted on X that several units were at the scene, and the canyon behind Lucille Drive in Talmadge and Alvarado Estates was burning.
Ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters fought the blaze.
As of around 5 p.m., SDFD spokersperson Jose Ysea said the fire was holding at 40 acres and at least 10 homes had minor damage to decks, fences and windows.
SDSU police and SDFD crews were evacuating homes above the canyon, Ysea said.
A mandatory evacuation order was put into place for the following area: south of Alvarado Canyon Road, west of Hewlett Drive, North of Monroe Avenue, east of Montezuma Road. See an evacuation map here.
A temporary evacuation point is located at Allied Gardens Recreation Center (5155 Greenbrier Ave, San Diego).
SDFD tweeted that they would reevaluate at 6 p.m. to determine if people could return to their homes. Crews will remain overnight.
Hardy Elementary School was being evacuated to the Aztec football practice field. Officials said parents could use Canyon Crest to pick up their children.
"We live a block away and the fire is right across our street. So we had a mandatory evacuation" Hardy Elementary parent Bipan Shrestha said. "So me and my wide got in a car with our dog and we were trying to drive in here and there was no way we can make it in time. So instead I just grabbed my dog and I started walking ... I said I'll go pick up my son first."
SDSU said there was no immediate threat to campus.
Road closures
The following roads will be closed until at least midnight, San Diego Police said on X.
- Collwood Boulevard, between Monroe Avenue and Montezuma Road.
- Montezuma Road, between Fairmount Avenue and 55th Street.
- Fairmount Ave, from Interstate 8 to Aldine Drive.
- Camino del Rio South at Fairmount Avenue.
- Eastbound Interstate 8 at Fairmount Avenue exit.
Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus routes 11, 13, 14, and 955 were being detoured, MTS said on X. Service on the Green Line trolley is not disrupted.
