Crews halt brush fire in North County, lift brief evacuation warnings

Firefighters continued to work Tuesday to extinguish a brush fire burning in rugged terrain in De Luz, but had stopped the momentum of the flames, authorities said.

The blaze, after burning for almost an hour off Sandia Creek Road, had posed threats to structures. Initially CalFire SanDiego had feared that it had the potential to grow to 250 acres.

But just after 6:30 p.m., CalFire reported that the forward rate of spread had been stopped after flames had consumed 24 acres. Crews had the fire 10% contained.

Evacuation warnings were issued for residents in the area north of Sandia Creek Drive and West Sandia Creek Terrace, south of Hermiena Avenue, east of Lynda Lane and Daily Road and west of East Sandia Creek Terrace. Those were lifted by around 6:25 p.m., according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.

At 4:10 p.m. the Sandia Fire had burned about four acres, before quickly growing to 10.

Authorities described the fire zone as “a remote area with difficult access.” CalFire called in a “full air and ground response” for the brush fire but by 5 p.m. was summoning more resources.

Crews in the air are aboard air tankers and multiple helicopters.

CalFire is in unified command with North County Fire Protection District and the Sheriff’s Office. Seventeen engines responded, along with four helicopters, four water tenders and two hand crews. More than 100 personnel were assigned to the Sandia Fire.

The cause of the blaze has yet to be determined.

City News Service contributed to this report.

Updated 6:42 p.m. Oct. 7, 2025.