Brush Fire Stopped At 180 Acres East Of Ramona

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — A wildfire prompted evacuations and threatened structures Wednesday in eastern San Diego County.

The blaze, called the Casner Fire, sparked at 12:18 p.m. near Casner Road and state Route 78 in the rural Witch Creek area east of Ramona, according to Cal Fire San Diego. Within two hours, the fire had blackened 156 acres and remained 0 percent contained.

Ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters fought the flames. Within three hours, crews stopped the spread of the blaze at about 180 acres, according to Cal Fire. There were no immediate reports of structural damage or injuries.

Deputies evacuated residents from homes at or near Rancho Ballena Road, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. A temporary evacuation point was established at Olive Peirce Middle School at 1521 Hanson Lane in Ramona.

Authorities shut down SR-78 from Rancho Santa Teresa Drive to the town of Santa Ysabel, according to the California Highway Patrol. The highway closure was lifted around 4 p.m., sheriff's officials said. Motorists were asked to drive with caution in the area until emergency personnel could clear the scene.

Thick black smoke was seen on SDG&E cameras on nearby Black Mountain and Mount Woodson.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, according to Cal Fire.