Brush fire in 4S Ranch prompts temporary evacuations

A slow-moving brush fire ignited Sunday afternoon in 4S Ranch, with fire officials ordering evacuations of nearby homes as crews battled the blaze from the air and the ground.

The fire was reported near the Boys and Girls Club on 4S Ranch Parkway near Dear Trail Drive just before 4:30 p.m., said Candace Hadley, spokesperson for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Sheriff’s deputies assisted with evacuations and directed residents to temporarily seek shelter at Del Norte High School.

Crews reported the forward movement of flames halted shortly before 5:20 p.m., Hadley said.

Fire officials had quickly dispatched helicopters and fixed-wing tankers to the blaze. The planes were released shortly before 5:30 p.m. and a county sheriff’s helicopter made water drops for about 20 minutes longer, Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said.

Hadley said San Diego Fire Rescue provided three engines and an all-terrain brush rig.