San Marcos brushfire stopped after prompting local evacuations

This story has been updated

Firefighters in San Marcos stopped the forward progress of a brush fire that threatened structures.

The fire was reported shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday in the 500 block of La Moree Road — that is near the Center For Children And Families at Cal State San Marcos — and was threatening structures in the 200 block of Walnut Hills Drive, near a playground. It was reported to be burning in heavy fuel at a moderate rate of speed, and had scorched at least 3 acres with the potential to burn 8, according to the San Marcos Fire Department.

The main campus at CSUSM was under an evacuation order.

“If you live in San Marcos, be aware of increased law enforcement and firefighting activity. A fire is burning near the 500 block of La Moree Road,” the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office posted on X. ” … If you feel you are in danger, GO!”

The city of San Marcos reported that as of 4:10 p.m., the fire’s forward progress had been stopped. The city urged evacuated residents to continue to go to a temporary evacuation point at Mission Hills High School while waiting to return. The school is at 1 Mission Hills Court in San Marcos.