Containment Reached in Brush Fire off Wildcat Canyon Road, Near Barona Mesa

A fire off Wildcat Canyon Road on the Barona Indian Reservation was brought under containment as of 5:15 p.m. Monday. Ground crews remained to keep an eye on any hot spots but the work of the air tankers and helicopters was reported to be over.

Cal Fire officials said structures were briefly threatened by the blaze which reached at least 70 acres. The Sheriff's ASTREA helicopter flew over Barona Mesa and San Diego Country Estates informing residents and telling them not to panic. A few residents near Calistoga Place were evacuated for a short time, according to one news report.

A huge cloud of smoke and some flames were visible Monday afternoon from the intersection of San Vicente Road and Wildcat Canyon Road in the San Diego Country Estates. Wildcat was closed from Barona Casino to San Vicente Road. Residents lined San Vicente Road to watch the firefighting efforts.

The fire began off Wildcat in an area east of Barona Speedway, the Sheriff's Department told Patch Monday.

CHP re-opened both lanes of Wildcat Canyon Road by 7 p.m.

Crews from Cal Fire and Heartland Fire attacked the blaze. One firefighter suffered a heat-related injury. The cause is under investigation.

Update Tuesday:

Cal Fire reported Tuesday that a spark from a malfunctioning catalytic converter is believed to have started the blaze. Parts of a converter were found along the road where the fire started.