Fires In Mexico, Riverside County Send Smoke Into San Diego

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA – Fires burning north and south of San Diego County sent smoke into the sky Thursday, causing concern for some citizens and prompting a smoke advisory for the region.

San Diegans took to social media in the morning as smoke from a fire burning near Rosarito in Mexico shifted into parts of the region.

Cal Fire reassured San Diegans that there were no fires in San Diego, tweeting at 12:09 p.m. that the smoke was coming from the fire in Mexico. The National Weather Service also advised the public that smoke from the fire would be moving into San Diego Thursday.

Smoke was especially heavy around noon in Poway, where a number of residents called the fire department.

"We've been getting a lot of calls about smoke," said Jillian Wright, administrative assistant of the Poway Fire Department.

Fire personnel searched the area but did not find any fires, she said.

"Anytime someone calls into dispatch, they're going out and checking the area," she added, "but we haven't found any type of active fire here."

Related: Smoke In Poway Likely 'Residual Smoke,' Fire Officials Say

A brush fire also sparked just before noon in Riverside County, quickly burning 100 acres in the Cleveland National Forest near Lake Elsinore and Wildomar.

Thick smoke from the fire could be seen in North County.

Also see: Wildomar Fire: Motorcycle Crash Sparks 100-Acre Blaze Near La Cresta, CHP Says

With smoke from fires affecting the air quality in San Diego County, the Air Pollution Control District issued a smoke advisory Thursday.

Fine particulates, or PM2.5 concentrations, could reach unhealthy levels in some smoke-impacted areas, the district warned.

The district suggested that people limit outdoor activities if they smell smoke from the fires, and if possible, stay indoors to limit exposure to fine particulate matter.

Photo: Riverside County fire / By Jason Zite