Fire Threatens Homes Near Palomar College In San Marcos

SAN MARCOS, CA — Crews have halted a brush fire at Palomar College in San Marcos that threatened structures, prompted evacuation warnings and sent smoke Thursday over San Diego's North County.

The blaze broke out around 12:30 p.m. in a botanical garden at the community college off West Mission Road, according to the San Marcos Fire Department. By 1:47 p.m., the fire had scorched 40 acres.

The flames spread east of Comet Circle, within about 50 yards of residences along Helmsdale and Kirkwall drives, SoCal Air Operations reported.

Authorities issued evacuation warnings from east Las Posas Road, west to Twin Oaks Valley Road, north of Mission Road and south of Borden Road. A temporary evacuation point was established in Lots X, Y and Z at Cal State San Marcos at 399 South Twin Oaks Valley Road in San Marcos.

The fire started in the Edwin and Frances Hunter Arboretum at Palomar College, campus officials said.

"Due to the swift reaction of our facilities team to contact the fire department, the fire is not a current threat to the campus," officials said on Twitter.

Humidity was about 20 percent and temperatures were in the high 80s in the area, according to the National Weather Service.

"Elevated fire weather conditions will continue through the day," the NWS San Diego said on Twitter.

By 2:50 p.m., crews stopped forward progress of the flames, according to the San Marcos Fire Department.

City News Service contributed to this report.