Fast-moving wildfire threatens homes near Ramona

SAN PASQUAL - A fast-moving wildfire threatened homes near Ramona this afternoon while charring scores of open acres east of San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

The blaze erupted for unknown reasons about 1 p.m. off the 18000 block of state Route 78, near Rangeland Road in northern San Diego, according to Cal Fire. In less than 90 minutes, the flames had spread to the east over about 150 hilly acres and were posing immediate hazards to houses in the rural area, the state agency reported.

Police shut down a stretch of SR 78 near the burn zone as crews worked to subdue the blaze, dubbed the Rangeland Fire, on the ground and aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters.

The fire was burning near the site of a blaze that blackened an estimated 365 acres two weeks ago, causing no reported structural damage or injuries.