Fire Near Safari Park Sparked By Vehicle, Investigators Say

SAN PASQUAL VALLEY, CA – Sparks from a passing vehicle ignited a fire that scorched about 100 acres Monday near San Diego Zoo Safari Park, authorities said Tuesday.

The blaze – one of three to break out in the San Pasqual Valley area in recent weeks – sparked shortly before 3 p.m. Monday along San Pasqual Valley Road at state Route 78, west of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, near Escondido. The fire, called the Cloverdale Fire, prompted evacuations but caused no reported structural damage.

All evacuation orders and warnings were lifted by 8:45 p.m. Monday, officials said.

Investigators initially believed that the blaze was an act of arson, but concluded following further witness interviews that the fire ignited by "the rim of a tire that was throwing sparks into the brush along the side of the road," said Monica Munoz, spokeswoman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

"Multiple fires along the San Pasqual Valley corridor, along with multiple points of origin, had the investigative team thinking (the fire was) intentional (Monday)," she said.

A firefighter suffered a minor injury in the blaze. The fire also forced the closure of a stretch of SR-78 and prompted the San Diego Zoo Safari Park to close early.

As of 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, the fire was 65 percent contained, Munoz said.

Last week, the Rangeland Fire scorched 250 acres and threatened structures in Ramona. The Pasqual Fire blackened 365 acres and prompted evacuations late July in San Pasqual Valley.

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By City News Service; Kristina Houck/Patch contributed to this report.

Image credit: NWS San Diego