Crime & Safety
Highway Fire Is 40% Contained
A wildfire that blackened about 500 acres in northeastern San Diego County, jumping major roadways, threatening homes and forcing evacuations, was about 40 percent contained today.
The non-injury blaze, dubbed the Highway Fire, erupted for unknown reasons near State Route 76 and Old Highway 395 in the Deer Springs area about 1 p.m. Wednesday, Cal Fire reported.
Stretches of Interstate 15, Old Highway 395 and SR-76 were closed for several hours as crews battled the blaze.
Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
No structural damage was reported.
Almost 600 households were contacted via a "reverse 911" system that urged residents to vacate their homes for safety's sake, and a temporary shelter was established at Fallbrook High School. The evacuation order was lifted Wednesday night, according to Cal Fire.
Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Read updates on the other San Diego County Wildfires here: Thursday San Diego County Firestorm Coverage.
—City News Service
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.