Vegetation fire in 4S Ranch causes evacuations, no structures damaged

On May 26 at approximately 3 p.m. firefighters responded to a vegetation fire near the 4S Ranch Sports Park in 4S Ranch. When they arrived on scene, they found three homes that were in immediate threat of the fire. The fire, moving at a moderate rate of speed in dense vegetation behind the park on Dove Creek Road, caused Oak Valley Middle School to shelter-in-place and the precautionary evacuation of several homes along Palomino Valley Road. The crews worked to protect homes and extinguish the fire, which burned approximately 5 acres. The fire is now extinguished and 100 percent contained; however, crews will remain on scene for several more hours to ensure all hot spots are put out. All shelter-in-place and evacuation orders have been lifted. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported.

“This fire serves as a reminder that in Southern California we can have a quick moving fire any time of the year and we should always make sure we maintain defensible space around homes,” said Fire Chief Tony Michel. “The homes impacted by today’s fire had appropriate defensible space around their property, which aided in our firefighting efforts.”

In addition to engine companies from the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District, firefighters from Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Poway, San Diego, and Cal Fire responded to the incident. Two helicopters from the San Diego Sheriff Department also aided in the firefighting efforts. The cause was determined to accidental by welders working in the area.