Brush Fire In 4S Ranch Forces Evacuations

• (Photos of the fire in 4S Ranch taken by @ChargerGrlCindi and Leah Cavalerie; posted via Twitter; used with permission)

SAN DIEGO, CA: A five-acre brush fire that broke out Thursday afternoon in 4S Ranch, forcing the evacuation of homes, was 100 percent contained as of 5:30 p.m., according to the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District.

No homes or other structures were damaged in the fire, and evacuations that were previously ordered on Palomino Valley Road have been lifted, RSF Fire reported on Twitter.

The vegetation fire erupted at 3 p.m. in a creek bed near the 4S Ranch Boys & Girls Club and Black Mountain Open Space Park, off the 15000 block of Dove Creek Road. 

The blaze reached three to four acres in size by about 3:45 p.m., with evacuations ordered on Palomino Valley Road, according to RSF Fire officials.

Nearby Oak Valley Middle School was sheltering in place, with some news agencies reporting that students were being put on buses and taken to nearby Westview High School.

Firefighters surrounded and hosed down the blaze on foot while a helicopter crew used a nearby pond to get water to drop from above.

Right before 4 p.m., officials reported the fire had grown to five acres but was 70 percent contained with a slow rate of speed. 

About a half an hour later, firefighters had the blaze 90 percent contained.

No one was injured in the fire.

Authorities had directed residents of some homes along Palomino Valley to evacuate as a precaution, RSF Fire District spokeswoman Julie Taber said.

Public agencies who assisted with the emergency situation the fire presented included the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, San Diego Fire-Rescue, Poway Fire and CAL FIRE.

An evacuation warning cancellation notice was sent out via AlertSanDiego at 4:45 p.m., according to sheriff's Sgt. K. Baker. 

"Deputies from multiple area stations responded to assist with road blocks, traffic control and evacuations," Baker said. 

An evacuation warning was activated and a message was sent at 4:05 p.m. to locations in the immediate area via AlertSanDiego. Residences along Palomino Valley Road were voluntarily evacuated from Dove Creek Road to Palomino Valley Court, according to the sergeant. 

"Oak Valley Middle School, part of the Poway Unified School District, chose to shelter in place," Baker said. "Ultimately the school released the children to their parents."

Westview High School was designated an evacuation center, but was ultimately not needed, according to Baker.

— City News Service contributed to this report.