Brush fire in College Area canyon forces evacuations, blocks streets

All evacuations related to the so-called Fairmount Fire in the College Area have been lifted, according to the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services/AlertSanDiego.
Montezuma Road between Collwood Boulevard and Fairmount Avenue was closed overnight.
The fire, which erupted for unknown reasons Thursday afternoon in a canyon off Fairmount Avenue and Montezuma Road, charred at least 37 acres, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue Department officials.
As of early Friday morning, the fire was 25% contained.
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Thousands had to evacuate from their homes as multiple San Diego Fire Department firefighters worked to put out a rapidly moving fire in the College Area.
According to SDFD, the fire sparked in the area of Montezuma Road and Fairmount Avenue around 1:45 p.m. Several units were at the scene, and helicopters attacked the fire from above.
As of 4 p.m., Thursday, the area of evacuation was indicated in the map below:
Mandatory evacuations went underway in the following areas, but has since been lifted:
The Allied Gardens Recreation Center at 5155 Greenbrier Ave. served as a temporary shelter for people under the evacuation order.
As of 2:42 p.m., the fire was about 37 acres large.
SDFD says Hardy Elementary School, located at 5420 Montezuma Drive, was evacuated, and the people there are headed to Viejas Arena on the San Diego State campus. Parents can access the arena via Canyon Crest Drive.
SDFD says Lucille Drive, Lila Drive and 49th Street are under evacuation orders as officers are going door to door to notify people.
will be closed until at least midnight:
SDFD says Montezuma Road is shut down in both directions, and Aldine Drive is also impacted. The canyon behind Lucille Drive in the Talmadge and Alvarado Estates area is burning, per firefighters.
The
says there is no immediate threat to the campus community since the fire is located southwest of campus. No SDSU buildings or residence halls were evacuated, and classes continued. University Police assisted SDFD in proactive evacuations off campus in neighborhoods closer to the fire.
SDFD Public Information Officer Jose Ysea told City News Service that as of 4:30 p.m., at least 10 residential properties sustained minor damage. The damage included scorched patios, burned fences, and broken windows. Ysea also said firefighters were making good progress in containing the fire.
Below, you’ll find pictures from the public: