RANCHO BERNARDO — Fire crews have stopped the advancement of a fire that erupted this morning in Rancho Bernardo and have lifted evacuation orders for the area.
The blaze, officially called the Center Fire and also referred to as the Bernardo Fire, broke out just before 9 a.m. near the intersection of Bernardo Rancho Drive and Camino del Norte near Interstate 15. It had burned around seven acres as of 1:25 p.m., according to the San Diego Fire Department, but crews originally feared it could burn up to 100 acres.
Approximately 175 firefighters from Cal Fire and San Marcos and Rancho Santa Fe fire departments were on scene to assist the San Diego Fire and San Diego Police departments.
As of 12:23 p.m., crews had stopped the forward progress of the flames, and evacuation orders and warnings were lifted for all but one area in exact proximity to the fire. By 3:15 p.m., the San Diego Police Department reported that all evacuation orders had been lifted.
“A fast response by air units helped quickly contain the #CenterFire,” San Diego Fire said on X.
One person was transported to the hospital with burn injuries in the morning, and thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate near the Christopher Hills County Preserve and Black Mountain Open Space Park directly west of I-15 and Camino del Norte.
While homes and other structures were threatened by the blaze, no structures appeared to have been damaged.
Road closures remain in effect on Camino del Norte, and first responders will remain in the area through the evening, officials said.
The Poway Unified School District said students were also evacuated from Rolling Hills Elementary School to Poway High School. Students from Rancho Bernardo Kinder Care were also evacuated and reunified with families at a separate location.
“We are grateful for the incredible work of the emergency responders in helping to keep our students and staff safe,” the Poway Unified School District said on X.
Other fires also cropped up yesterday in San Diego County. The Friars Fire in Mission Valley was brought under control after burning between 15 and 20 acres Tuesday, and the ongoing Lilac Fire in Bonsall has burned around 85 acres since Tuesday and is 90% contained, according to Cal Fire.
Strong Santa Ana winds and bone-dry conditions have created prime fire conditions in Southern California over the past two weeks, with two massive fires devastating Los Angeles earlier this month.
