Firefighter Injured In Brush Fire Near Plaza Bonita Mall

UPDATE:

NATIONAL CITY, CA – A National City firefighter suffered burns to his lower back Thursday while on scene of a brush fire that began in a riverbed near the Plaza Bonita Mall.

The fire broke out around 7 a.m. along Plaza Bonita Road near Westfield Plaza Bonita in National City.
When units arrived they found a blaze covering around 300 square feet spreading moderately fast, National City Fire Marshal Robert Hernandez said.

As of 9 a.m. there were no active flames, but the brush is still smoldering, Hernandez said.

The firefighter suffered burns to his lower back after stepping into a hole of waist-deep water along the riverbed and falling onto the fire, Hernandez said.

The firefighter was treated by paramedics and transported to UC San Diego Medical Center's burn unit.

The severity of the burns was not known, but Hernandez said the injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.

The northbound Interstate 805 ramp to eastbound state Route 54 were closed temporarily due to the fire, according to California Highway Patrol.

National City Police tweeted that a helicopter was used on scene to drop water on the fire.

By City News Service

NATIONAL CITY, CA – Firefighters are battling a brush fire near Plaza Bonita Mall in National City.

The blaze was first reported around 7 a.m. in the riverbed off northbound Interstate 805 near eastbound state Route 54, according to the California Highway Patrol. Flames and black smoke could be seen for several miles.

Firefighters from the National City Fire Department responded to the scene. A helicopter made water drops on the flames.

The CHP issued a Sig-alert at 8:10 a.m. The northbound I-805 ramp to eastbound SR-54 was closed.