Evacuations were underway as crews battled a growing brush fire that sparked in Sorrento Valley on Monday morning, San Diego police said.
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The fire was reported about 9:20 a.m. in the area of Sorrento Valley Drive just east of Interstate 5, police said. It had grown to 30 to 40 acres as of 10:30 a.m. and was growing at a “dangerous rate of spread,” the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said on X.
A portion of East Ocean Air Drive, as well as several streets to the south, including Abalone Landing Terrace, Sea Pearl Cove, the 10500 block of Sand Crab Place and the 10500 block of Corte Jardin Del Mar, were being ordered to evacuate.
Houses to the east along Sorrento Valley Boulevard and Calle Crisobal have also been ordered to evacuate. People were also ordered to evacuate from the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, an area popular with hikers and bicyclists.
“Residents in the affected area should leave now and follow directions from emergency personnel,” San Diego police said on X. “Do not wait for conditions to worsen.”
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Residents in neighborhoods directly to the north, east and south of the evacuation zones were given a warning and told they should begin to ready important items should they need to evacuate quickly, police said.
A temporary evacuation point has been set for Mandell Weiss Eastgate Park.
Sorrento Valley Blvd has been closed between Vista Sorrento Parkway and Camino Santa Fe, and drivers should avoid the area.
Winds in the area of the fire were blowing 15 mph from the south/southwest as of mid-morning. The relative humidity was 75% and the temperature was 69 degrees.
There was at least one report of an explosion heard before the fire started, police Officer Sarah Foster said.
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Staff writer Gary Robbins contributed to this report.
