Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
A fast-moving urban brush fire damaged a half-dozen homes and forced widespread evacuations and road closures near San Diego State University Thursday.
The non-injury blaze erupted for unknown reasons in a canyon off Fairmount Avenue and Montezuma Road in the College area about 1:30 p.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
Ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters fought the blaze as San Diego police officers cleared people out of threatened homes along hilltops above the burning gorge, SDFRD spokesman Jose Ysea said.
Within roughly an hour, the blaze had blackened an estimated 37 acres, according to the fire department.
The speedily spreading flames forced mandatory evacuations east of Montezuma Road, north of Monroe Avenue, south of Alvarado Canyon Road and west of Hewlett Drive. Among the affected locations were Talmadge-area neighborhoods along Lila, Lorraine and Lucille drives, as well as on Collwood Way, police said.
A temporary shelter for evacuees was in operation at Allied Gardens Recreation Center on Greenbrier Avenue, near the intersection of Waring Road and Zion Avenue. See an updated evacuation map here.
Also evacuated as a precaution was Hardy Elementary School in the 5400 block of Montezuma Road. Officials were taking the displaced pupils to unite with family members at Viejas Arena on the grounds of SDSU.
"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 wife 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."
As of 4:30 p.m., firefighters were making good progress toward subduing the blaze, which damaged a total of six homes, officials said.
Crews had the smoldering burn area about 25% contained as of 6:30 p.m., according to SDFRD public affairs.
Streets remaining shut down due to the blaze in the early evening included Collwood Boulevard between Monroe Avenue and Montezuma Road, Camino Del Rio South at Fairmount Avenue, Fairmount Avenue from Interstate 8 to Aldine Drive and Montezuma Road between Fairmount Avenue and 55th Street.
The closures were expected to remain in effect until at least midnight, police advised.
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.
