Sorrento Valley Fire Alert
Sorrento Valley Brush Fire Triggers Evacuations, Grows to 25 Acres in San Diego
Key Points
Fire began in the Penasquitos Creek area east of Interstate 15, with staging at Sorrento Valley Boulevard and Vista Sorrento Parkway; aerial attack started immediately and air resources were requested within about 40 minutes, with Cal Fire San Diego sending fixed-wing aircraft five minutes after the request.
Within roughly an hour, responders included four engines, seven brush rigs, four operation-support vehicles, four battalion chiefs and two helicopters, with two Cal Fire bulldozers and a Type 3 Strike Team also on scene.
Temporary evacuation point was established at Mandell Weiss Eastgate Park (4161 Eastgate Mall), with an Evacuation Order for Zone SDC-1444 and Evacuation Warnings for Zones SDC-1443, SDC-1492 and SDC-1494.
Cal Fire on scene using fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters as part of the initial aerial attack, with NBC San Diego noting that no structures were threatened at that time.
A brush fire broke out in Sorrento Valley, San Diego County, at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday, rapidly growing from 6–7 acres to more than 70 acres by late afternoon. Patch reported the fire started in the Penasquitos Creek area east of Interstate 15, prompting an evacuation order and road closures across the area.
Cal Fire San Diego and the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department rushed to the scene with a massive ground and air response. Head Topics reported the fire had burned roughly 71 acres, according to FIRIS aerial mapping — a sharp jump from earlier estimates of 20–25 acres.
Fire Ignites Near Penasquitos Creek, Spreads East
The fire started burning slowly through medium vegetation near Sorrento Valley Boulevard and Carmel Mountain Road. Patch noted the blaze was moving east of Interstate 15 when crews first arrived. Staging was set up at the intersection of Sorrento Valley Boulevard and Vista Sorrento Parkway.
Air resources were requested within about 40 minutes of the first report. Cal Fire San Diego sent fixed-wing aircraft just five minutes after that request. San Luis Obispo Tribune reported the fire had charred over 70 acres as it spread eastward toward the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve.
Evacuation Orders Force Residents to Leave Homes
Officials issued a mandatory evacuation order for Zone SDC-1444. Evacuation warnings — meaning residents should be ready to leave — were issued for three nearby zones: SDC-1443, SDC-1492, and SDC-1494. Economic Times reported that road closures were also put in place to keep the area clear for firefighters.
A temporary evacuation point was set up at Mandell Weiss Eastgate Park, located at 4161 Eastgate Mall. Residents in the affected zones were directed there. Head Topics noted that the fire was burning near the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, adding to concerns about the fire's path.
Massive Ground and Air Fleet Attacks the Flames
Within about an hour of the first report, crews had deployed four engines, seven brush rigs, four operation-support vehicles, and four battalion chiefs. Two helicopters were also on scene. Cal Fire added two bulldozers and a Type 3 Strike Team to help cut containment lines around the fire.
Fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters carried out an aerial attack from the start. Patch reported that no structures were immediately threatened during the early phase of the response. The fire's cause remained under investigation as containment work continued into the afternoon.
Acreage Estimates Jumped Sharply Throughout the Day
Early reports around 3 p.m. put the fire at just 6–7 acres. That number climbed to 20–25 acres within hours as crews worked to slow the spread. By late afternoon, FIRIS — a state aerial mapping system — had logged the fire at 71.1 acres, more than ten times the initial estimate.
San Luis Obispo Tribune confirmed the fire had grown past 70 acres as the incident remained fluid. The shifting numbers reflected updates from multiple agencies working the same fire. Containment status continued to evolve as the firefighting effort pressed on into the evening.
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