A fast-moving brush fire prompted evacuations Wednesday in rural North County a few miles east of Interstate 15, but fire crews were able to quickly halt the blaze.
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The fire erupted mid-morning near Rainbow Crest Road in Fallbrook and was burning in a steep, rocky area, Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said.
Just before 11:30 a.m., officials estimated the blaze had charred 50 acres, but about an hour later, they revised that figure to 35 acres and said the fire’s forward rate of spread had been stopped.
Crews attacked the blaze from the ground and the air. The North County Fire Protection District said all firefighting planes were released from the scene as of 12:35 p.m.
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The fire, which broke out amid temperatures in the high 80s, prompted evacuations from Rainbrook Drive east almost to Pala Temecula Road. Areas west of Rainbrook were placed under an evacuation warning.
A temporary evacuation site was set up at the Seventh Day Adventist Church at 1200 Old Highway 395 in Fallbrook.
The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District issued a smoke advisory for the extreme northern part of inland San Diego County, including the areas around Rainbow, Pala and Pauma Valley. The agency said residents should assume that air quality levels will be unhealthy.
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