Brush Fire Scorches 60 Acres in Torrey Pines Reserve

Fire swept through a picturesque canyon at Torrey Pines State Reserve Tuesday afternoon, charring 60 acres of parkland.

Battling the fire was particularly difficult because of the canyon’s steep terrain, said Tom Morris, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire Department.

Firefighters on the ground had trouble reaching the canyon, between Torrey Pines Road and Interstate 5, Morris said.

Once they did reach the flames, firefighters found that the canyon walls trapped the heat and “acted like a chimney,” Morris said.

A mild sea breeze that swept into the littoral park helped firefighters with its cool, moist air. In the canyons, however, the light, tricky winds whipped flames at times, Morris said.

The blaze was declared 85% contained early Tuesday evening, but firefighters were working through the night to dig firebreaks to ensure against further spreading should the fire erupt anew, said department spokeswoman Carol Uzdavines.

“The fire will not be declared controlled for 36 hours,” she said. “It’s not going to be completely out for a couple of days.”

Firefighters blamed the dense brush for slowing their efforts, since the thick, sylvan areas can hide embers for hours.

“We have requested a helicopter drop (this) morning” to cap the overnight work of the hand crews, Uzdavines said.

The San Diego Fire Department, the Poway Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry crews fought the fire, Morris said.

The CDF dispatched the two air tankers and two helicopters to douse the blaze from above, the CDF’S Katherine Logan said.

A Sorrento Valley industrial complex was evacuated after the fire broke out shortly after noon, police said.

The Fire Department said the evacuation was carried out largely as a precaution.

The northbound lanes of Torrey Pines Road were closed briefly to allow firefighting equipment to be maneuvered more easily.

No structures were damaged and no one was injured. Officials could not say whether any rare Torrey pines were destroyed at the 1,123-acre park.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, the Fire Department announced.