Sparks from a vehicle, not arson, ignite third SR-78 fire

State Route 78 between San Diego Zoo Safari Park and Cloverdale Road remained closed Tuesday morning as officials investigated a wildfire they initially believed was deliberately set Monday afternoon. Drivers going to and from Ramona used Old Milky Way off San Pasqual Road until SR-78 reopened.

The Cloverdale fire, the third to start off SR-78 in the San Pasqual area west of Ramona in less than three weeks, began just before 3 p.m. Monday off SR-78 and Cloverdale Road, threatening homes and prompting evacuations, Cal Fire reported. Sparks from a passing vehicle — not an arsonist — ignited the blaze, Monica Munoz, spokeswoman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, said Tuesday afternoon.

“Multiple fires along the San Pasqual Valley corridor, along with multiple points of origin, had the investigative team thinking (the fire was) intentional,” Munoz said.

After witness interviews, they determined it had been ignited by “the rim of a tire that was throwing sparks into the brush along the side of the road,” she said.

The other two SR-78 wildfires — the first on July 27 and the second on Aug. 9 — threatened homes in Ramona. Additional brush fires in the Old Julian Highway area recently left residents questioning the cause of the summer blazes.

Sheriff's deputies Monday afternoon posted evacuation warnings for the area near the San Pasqual Road and SR-78 intersection and directed those who evacuated to San Pasqual High School on Bear Valley Parkway as crews on the ground and from firefighting aircraft worked to douse the flames. The safari park closed early due to the fire and reopened Tuesday.

Within two hours, the Cloverdale blaze had grown to about 40 acres, Cal Fire reported. Authorities closed SR-78 near the blaze area as a safety precaution and to expedite the fire-suppression operations.

By 5:45 p.m., firefighters had stopped the fire’s spread. As of 7 p.m. officials estimated the fire had burned about 100 acres and was 15 percent contained.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was treated at the scene, said the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. No structural damage was reported.

On July 27, a wildfire that started at 1:35 p.m. near San Pasqual Academy in the 17000 block of SR-78 blackened an estimated 365 acres and threatened Ramona homes. Cal Fire ordered evacuations on Rangeland Road, Oak Grove Road, Highland Hills Drive, Horizon View, Rio Maggiore Drive, Cinque Terre Drive, Via Cuesta, Via Vista Grande, Prestige Street, Rancho Villa Road, Weekend Villa Road, Day Star Way and Rustic Villa Road.

Firefighters from numerous agencies worked the fire through the weekend. Cal Fire sent periodic updates to the public and issued its final report of complete containment about 5:45 p.m. on Monday, July 30.

On Aug. 9, a fast-moving brush fire scorched about 250 acres in the same general area. Cal fire reported it started in the 18000 block of SR-78 near Rangeland Road about 1 p.m. In less than 90 minutes, the flames had spread to the east, threatened homes and prompted highway closure between Orozco Guijeto Truck Trail and Horizon View.

By 3 p.m., Cal Fire reported the rate of the fire’s spread had slowed, and 24 hours later the state agency said the fire, called the Rangeland fire, was 80 percent contained and crews were mopping up. Later on Friday, Cal Fire reported 100 percent containment and said crews would patrol the area for several days. One firefighter suffered a minor injury and no structures burned, the agency reported.

—City News Service contributed to this report.