SAN DIEGO — Fire crews swiftly battled a 15-20 acre fire along Friars Rd. near Fashion Valley Mall Tuesday afternoon, prompting evacuation orders and evacuation warnings for the area.
San Diego Fire said the call came in just after noon on Tuesday and that it was burning up a nearby hill with medium fuel and structures were threatened.
Police shut down a stretch of the busy roadway and cleared people out of nearby structures as ground crews and personnel aboard water-dropping helicopters fought the fire, which was climbing steep slopes toward a bluff-top condominium complex.
One apartment building had been damaged, but fire crews were starting to be released as of 1:20 p.m.
Battalion Chief Craig Newell said up to 200 firefighters battled the flames. Poway and Chula Vista Fire officials helped combat the blaze. He said fire crews had prepared for an aggressive response during these extremely dry conditions. The fire was racing up the hill when crews arrived.
“The hillside is difficult right. The fire is going to go faster uphill then on flat ground. The fuels here facing south so they’re very very dry very sparse grasses and light brush that makes it faster. When I first got here it was racing up hill,” Newell said.
At least one firefighter has been injured, according to San Diego Fire.
“Luckily we had a fire like this in a crowded urban environment and we didn’t lose anything. that’s a big win,” he said.
Newell thanked SDPD for helping with evacuations and keeping the community safe.
“Just fire truck after fire truck, a wonderful response in my opinion really a lot of hope seeing them go by,” said resident Thomas Johnson.
Johnson could see the fire from his balcony. He and other residents expressed their gratitude to first responders.
“About a month ago they had cleared a bunch of brush because of the rain last year because everything was overgrown. If they hadn’t cleared that, I don’t think our place would be standing so a big thanks to the fire fighters and police officers,” said resident Dave Mahlar.
All evacuation orders for the Friar Fire were listed just before 4 p.m. according to San Diego Fire.
Some road closures will remain in place for vehicle traffic, specifically for the Camino Degrazia area and Friars Road area. First Responders are still actively working in the area, please proceed with caution.
WATCH: Fire crews battling brush fire near Fashion Valley in San Diego on Tuesday (12:30 p.m. update):
WATCH RELATED: How to know when it’s time to go during a wildfire:
CalFire has built a list of things to have ready in case you and your family are evacuated during any wildfire or disaster.
Ensure your wildfire ‘Go Bag’ includes:
- A 3-day supply of non-perishable food & 3 gallons of water per person
- A map with at least 2 evacuation routes
- Necessary prescriptions or medications
- A change of clothes & extra eyeglasses/contact lenses
- Extra car keys, credit cards, cash, or traveler’s checks
- A first aid kit & sanitation supplies
- A flashlight & battery-powered radio with extra batteries
- Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.)
- Pet food & water
Always have sturdy shoes and a flashlight near your bed, ready for sudden night evacuations.
If time allows, consider adding:
- Valuables that are easy to carry
- Family photos and irreplaceable items
- Personal computer data on hard drives and disks
- Chargers for cell phones and laptops
