San Diego : Mission Valley Brush Fire Burns 4 Acres in Canyon

A three-alarm brush fire in Mission Valley burned four acres of steep canyon Wednesday before being extinguished by more than 75 San Diego firefighters manning 30 pieces of equipment.

No one was injured in the blaze and no structures were destroyed, although fire officials said that a number of homes were endangered.

Investigators have determined that the fire was deliberately set, said Ida Cheney, a spokeswoman for the San Diego Fire Department. The arson squad is investigating.

Meanwhile, authorities also are investigating the possibility that the fire could be linked to at least five other brush fires--including four southeast of Lakeside and one in El Cajon--that occurred Wednesday near Interstate 8, Cheney said.

California Department of Forestry investigators suspect arson in the four fires near Lakeside. The largest fire burned 15 acres of brush at Flynn Springs Road and Shanteau Drive. The other three burned 2 acres each. Arson devices were found at each site. There were no details available about the El Cajon fire.

The Mission Valley fire occurred near the 900 block of Camino del Rio South, southeast of the intersection of Interstate 8 and California 163. First reported at 6:28 p.m., it was declared contained at 7:15 p.m. and under control at 7:39 p.m.

The fire took place in overgrown brush, authorities said. The steep terrain and a steady wind hampered firefighting efforts, said Cheney. However, the recent damp, cool weather assisted in controlling the blaze.

“If it had been a hot, dry day, it could have been real serious,” said Cheney.