Fire cripples Highway 76, burns 118 acres

Two brush fires, that erupted Saturday, June 16, in the San Luis Rey riverbed, led to State Route 76 being closed, between Interstate 15 and Mission Road, for twenty-six hours over Father’s Day weekend and voluntary evacuations of nearby homes. Remarkably, no injuries were sustained and no structures were lost in either of the blazes. Firefighters from multiple agencies battled heavy brush and other conditions to contain the fires.

The first fire, reported at approximately 7:30 a.m. that morning, in the vicinity of SR76 and

Via Monserate, within the San Luis Rey River Preserve, was contained within two hours, according to John Buchanan, public information officer for North County Fire Protection District.

Firefighters were hampered in their efforts by weather conditions and dense brush, Buchanan said.

"In the morning fire, due to the fog and low clouds, there was zero visibility," said Buchanan. "The brush was so thick it took a hand crew half an hour to cut a path to the fire."

As weather began to clear throughout the morning, air support was able to access the scene. The morning fire consumed 2.5 acres.

The second fire erupted Saturday at approximately 1:10 p.m. in the riverbed along SR76 near Gird Road and Calle Del Vuelta (vuelta fire), a mere one-fourth to one-half mile west of the first fire site. The second fire burned 118 acres (2.5 acres of that was the morning fire site), officials said, and required a much larger and longer effort to gain containment.

The lack of fire hydrants in the river area posted a challenge, requiring water trucks to be brought in. Fire helicopters were picking up water from the nearby Sycamore Ranch development at Highway 76 and Gird Road.

When spot fires began appearing on the north side of Highway 76 late Saturday afternoon, officials highly recommended voluntary evacuations for one to two dozen homes in the Monserate Hill area.

“There were a total of ten spot fires that began across 76,” Buchanan said. “The fire had gotten into the canopy of trees (on the south side of 76) and rolled through; embers started flying.” Evacuees were directed to Riverview Evangelical Free Church, located near River Village Shopping Center in Bonsall.

By Sunday night at 5 p.m., the fire was eighty percent contained and full containment was achieved Monday evening.

In reflection, Buchanan said the greatest fear presented itself when the fire started racing through the canopy of tree tops.

“Everybody, in the aircraft and firefighters on the ground, being able to stop it, was spectacular,” he said. “There was a lot of unburned fuel in there. Being able to get a jump on it was pretty spectacular.”

With North County Fire as the lead agency on the blaze, a ‘unified command’ was implemented and a total of 33 fire trucks were used to fight the fires. CAL Fire (California Department of Forestry) provided 15 trucks, North Zone [San Diego County] fire agencies provided a total of 10 trucks, and five trucks were sent by San Diego City Fire.

“With a unified command we were all on the same frequency,” Buchanan said. “It worked out well.”

Buchanan said both fires are suspicious in origin and are under investigation. Pertaining to the second fire, Buchanan noted, “Winds were blowing from west to east so there is no way .”