Brushfire, car fire spark near I-15 overpasses

On successive days, a brush fire and a car fire sparked in the area of the I-15 freeway.

On Monday, Sept. 10, the California Highway Patrol reported a vegetation fire in the area of I-15 and Steward Canyon Road around 12:30 p.m.

Cal Fire San Diego and North County Fire were in unified command of the brush fire and a San Diego County Sheriff’s Department Fallbrook Substation watch commander announced via Twitter that Pankey Road was closed in both directions.

The watch commander warned nearby residents that the fire could spread, to stay clear of the area and asked residents to be prepared for evacuations. Roughly 20 minutes later, it became apparent that no evacuations would be needed.

By 2:30 p.m., Cal Fire San Diego and North County Fire announced they had halted the forward rate of spread of the fire and that engines would remain on the scene to mop up.

According to several published reports, witnesses reported to Cal Fire personnel on the scene that they had seen a man and woman leaving the area in a car around the same time the fire had started.

“Nothing to report, the incident is still under investigation,” said Cal Fire San Diego Public Information Officer Isaac Sanchez Sept. 11. “There were some witnesses that provided information to our people on the scene, but nothing to report yet.”

In the early morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, a two-car accident resulted in a single car fire near the Mission Road/Highway 395 and I-15 off and onramp.

“Two vehicles were involved in a simple fender bender on the northbound off ramp at Mission Road and Interstate 15,” said North County Fire Public Information Officer John Choi. “The two vehicles moved off to the Highway 395 side of East Mission Road, at which point, the rear vehicle caught on fire.”

Cal Fire and North County Fire Engine 114 both responded and the scene where the car was fully-engulfed with fire and quickly extinguished the blaze, containing it to the vehicle.

According to Choi, no injuries were reported.