Editor’s note: This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
A fast-moving brush fire scorched dozens of acres and forced residential evacuations today in a rural area near Pala Mesa Resort before crews halted the spread of the blaze.
The blaze erupted for unknown reasons about 12:45 p.m. off the 3800 block of Lake Garden Drive in Fallbrook, just west of Interstate 15 and east of Gird Road, according to Cal Fire.
As of shortly before 2:30 p.m., the flames had spread over an estimated 48 acres and were moving through areas near homes, said Mike Cornette, a fire captain with the state agency.
Sheriff's deputies cleared people out of residences near the burn zone while firefighters battled the blaze on the ground and aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters.
Areas subject to a mandatory evacuation order as of mid-afternoon were neighborhoods east of Gird Road; north of state Route 76; south of Laketree Drive, Pala Mesa Drive and Wilt Road; and west of Old Highway 395. Residents of locations to the north of those perimeters —as far north as Reche Road — were advised to prepare to leave their homes on short notice.
See a map of evacuation order and warning here.
As of 4:30 p.m., crews had halted the spread of the blaze at roughly 50 acres, Cal Fire reported. There were no reports of structural damage or injuries.
