Crews Subdue 30-Acre ​Willow Fire​ In Rancho San Diego

RANCHO SAN DIEGO, CA — Firefighters working to douse remaining hot spots at the site of a wind-whipped brush fire that destroyed one home and damaged six others in a neighborhood near El Cajon had the 30-acre burn area fully contained early Thursday evening.

The non-injury blaze erupted for unknown reasons next to a home in the 2800 block of Willow Glen Drive in Rancho San Diego about 10 p.m. Wednesday, according to Cal Fire.

Driven by strong, arid Santa Ana winds, the flames raced up to the top of an adjacent hill, where they gutted a residence and damaged six others, said Cal Fire Capt. Thomas Shoots.

Sheriff's deputies cleared residents out of houses on more than a dozen surrounding streets as ground and airborne crews battled the blaze, dubbed the Willow Fire.

Firefighters had the spread of the blaze halted by shortly before 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

Despite the dry, gusty conditions, the personnel were able to get a handle on the fire because it was "boxed in" by residential streets, Shoots said.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

— City News Service