Crime & Safety

Firefighters Extinguish 110-Acre Brush Fire Near Mission Trails Park and Route 52

Firefighters have contained a 110-acre brush fire that sparked off state Route 52 near Mission Trails Regional Park Sunday evening, which sent smoke into Santee, authorities said. All trails at Mission Trails Regional Park were closed Monday morning, except the main Cowles Mountain trail, so firefighters can watch for hot spots and conclude their mop-up activities.

The fire off the eastbound lanes near Santo Road was reported shortly before 4:30 p.m., and moved east toward Mission Trails, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and the California Highway Patrol. It was reported contained just after 6 p.m. and the fire was almost entirely out by 7:30 p.m.

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Fire officials said the cause of the blaze had not yet been determined.

About 200 firefighters from various agencies responded to the blaze, four air tankers dropped fire retardant and three helicopters dumped water, according to a report by UT San Diego. One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and was hospitalized.

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One of the highway's eastbound lanes was blocked and a SigAlert was issued, according to the CHP, causing a traffic backup. Authorities also called for the closure of the connector from Santo Road to eastbound state Route 52.

No structures were threatened, fire officials said.

Mission Trails Regional Park was closed for a period and some people in the park were evacuated, a SDFRD dispatcher said.

-City News Service



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