CARLSBAD — A three-acre, three-alarm brush fire broke out in the middle of a local neighborhood at 1:44 p.m. Jan. 20 on the north shore of Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
Firefighters from Carlsbad, Encinitas, Vista and Cal Fire extinguished the blaze, dubbed the Park Fire, at 3:45 p.m. after emergency evacuation orders were given to residents in the area, according to Carlsbad Fire Department spokesman Felix Salcedo. Helicopters and air support from CalFire were provided to dump water on the fire, while crews battled it on the ground, he said.
The blaze was across the street from two townhome developments on Park Drive between Marina and Bayshore drives with numerous single-family homes just up the hill on Sunnyhill Drive.
A video from Signature Media Group provided to The Coast News shows flames raging and consumer a number of palm trees, while also creating a smoke plume making it difficult for firefighters to battle the fire. The fire also consumed a number of bushes and vegetation along the hillside.
The video also shows winds blowing north and flames climbing as high 10 feet.
Salcedo said crews were able to successfully navigate the strong winds and put out the fire. He said no homes, structures or injuries were reported.
Carlsbad police also assisted on the scene, diverting traffic and assisting with evacuation orders, which included parts of Park and Cove drives, Adams Street and Arena Road.
The evacuation orders were lifted just before 5 p.m., Salcedo said.
As for the cause of the fire, it remains under investigation, he added.
“It was quite windy at the time and good thing we had multiple attacks to extinguish it quickly,” Salcedo said of the wind. “It accelerated the fire.”
