Firefighters address three additional blazes between Lakeside and Santee

As firefighters mopped up a three-acre fire that briefly closed Route 67 north of Lakeside, three more small fires popped up between Lakeside and Santee.

Smoke from the first of the fires was spotted in the 13900 block of state Route 67, near Sycamore Park Drive, shortly before 1 p.m., according to the Lakeside Fire Protection District and the California Highway Patrol.

The fire initially spread at a slow to moderate rate in medium fuels, but it was stopped from spreading further, according to Cal Fire, which also responded.

A stretch of state Route 67 was closed south of the Poway Scripps Parkway junction as crews worked to put out the blaze. As of about 2:45 p.m., all but one lane had been reopened, CHP officials said.

At around 2:15 p.m., three more brush fires were spotted in the vicinity of the 8400 block of Winter Gardens Boulevard, near Golden Ridge Road, authorities said. Their spread was quickly halted, and no structures were

involved.

Winter Gardens Boulevard was closed between Sapota Drive and Laurel Lee Lane, according to the CHP.