Cocos Fire Road Closures for Thursday Morning

A 700-acre fire that has burned at least four structures south of state Route 78 near Cal State San Marcos was zero percent contained this morning and continuing to force residents from their homes, authorities said.

The so-called Cocos Fire -- initially designated the Washingtonia Fire --  broke out for unknown reasons in the area of Cocos Drive about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday, according to Cal Fire. The state firefighting agency said early today it has confirmed that three structures were destroyed and one was damaged by the fire.

It was one of several fires to erupt within hours of each other on Wednesday amid unseasonably hot, dry and windy weather conditions.

"(The) fire is still very active and continues to move to the south," Cal Fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser said at 2:30 this morning.

Several thousand San Marcos-area residents were evacuated Wednesday afternoon and evening, and early this morning. The latest round of evacuation orders were sent via text, emails and phone calls to residents in the areas of Questhaven, Harmony Grove and parts of Elfin Forest in San Marcos and neighboring unincorporated areas of the county, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

Earlier in the day Wednesday, campus officials cleared Cal State San Marcos. The campus will remain closed through Friday and this weekend's commencement ceremonies have been cancelled, according to university officials.

Other evacuated residents included those from the all neighborhoods south of San Marcos Boulevard, including Coronado Hills, Discovery Hills, Discovery Meadows, Lake San Marcos and North San Elijo Hills.

Emergency shelters were open at Mission Hills High School and at San Marcos Middle School.

Road closures in effect this morning included:

• South Twin Oaks Valley Road at Highway 78
• Craven Road at Twin Oaks Valley Road
• Village Drive at Twin Oaks Valley Road
• San Elijo Road at Double Peak Road
• Melrose Drive at Rancho Santa Fe Road
• Melrose Drive at San Elijo Road
• San Elijo Road at Rancho Santa Fe Road
• Elfin Forest Road at Calistoga Way
• Questhaven Road at the city limit
• Coronado Hills Drive at Via Del Camp
• Fallsview Road at San Elijo Road