CA Dehydrated Hiker Ignites Signal Fire That Charred 2 Acres

SAN DIEGO, CA — Firefighters quelled a brush fire that consumed two acres on Sunday. The blaze began as a signal fire from a dehydrated hiker in need of medical aid, officials confirmed.

The fire was reported around 2:30 p.m. as it burned at one acre. Officials used air and ground resources to stop the spread of the slow moving fire and were mopping it up just after 4 p.m., Cal Fire San Diego tweeted.

The hiker had been experiencing dehydration and admitted to setting a signal fire that got out of hand, an incident commander at the scene told Capt. Thomas Shoots of Cal Fire San Diego.

The hiker was found near the blaze and a helicopter crew making water drops transitioned to a hoist rescue and flew him to a hospital, Shoots said.

City News Service contributed to this report.