Firefighters work hay fire near Safari Park

Firefighters work hay fire near Safari Park
Scene from a hay bale fire in North County. (Photo courtesy San Diego Fire Department)
Scene from a hay bale fire in North County. (Photo courtesy San Diego Fire Department)
Scene from a hay bale fire in North County. (Photo courtesy San Diego Fire Department)

Fire crews worked a blaze that consumed hundreds of bales of hay in an open field across from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on Sunday, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said.

Firefighters said they expected to be on the scene throughout the day.

Crews responded at 11:20 p.m. Saturday to the location of the field near the 15000 block of Old Milky Way near San Pasqual Valley Road and worked throughout the night.

Eight fire engines, four brush rigs, a water tender, a battalion chief and other units were joined by Cal Fire dozers in battling the fire, which was still smoldering on Sunday morning. Crews said that it was difficult to get to the fires because they were smoldering inside rolls and stacks of hay.

The cause of the fire remains unclear.