Editor's note: This is a developing story. Updates will be added as more information becomes available.
A suburban wildfire charred nearly 20 open acres near Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Tuesday, forcing thousands of people from their homes as ground and airborne crews worked to quell the flames.
The fire erupted shortly before 2:30 p.m. near the intersection of Carmel Valley Road and Del Mar Scenic Parkway, at the site of a roughly one-acre vegetation blaze that crews had subdued earlier in the day, according to police and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.
As firefighters battled the re-ignited blaze, authorities evacuated some 2,500 people out of homes east of North Torrey Pines Road, north of Carmel Valley Road, south of Del Mar Heights Road and west of Interstate 5. Roughly 1,500 other residents were advised to prepare to clear out of their neighborhoods on short notice.
Evacuation orders were lifted around 7:20 p.m.
A temporary shelter for the displaced was in operation in the late afternoon at Del Mar Fairgrounds.
"It is very dense brush that has not burned for a long period of time and we've had all that rain earlier this year," said Monica Munoz, spokesperson for SDFD. "So that creates a very difficult challenging environment for the firefighters on the ground."
Munoz said multiple agencies have responded.
As of 5:30 p.m., ground crews and personnel aboard an air tanker and three water-dropping helicopters had halted the spread of the fire at an estimated 19 acres, according to SDFD public affairs. The blaze was 5% contained.
No structural damage was reported.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
The fire first started around 10 a.m. Around noon, SDFD said on X that crews had stopped the fire at 1 acre. Later that afternoon, the department said a hotspot outside the fire line reignited.
