In the early hours of the morning, the Pauma Valley Trading Center, a small grocery store located at the intersection of Highway 76 and Pauma Valley Road, found itself at the center of a raging inferno. As the bright orange flames filled the building and black smoke billowed into the sky, firefighters were called to the scene, swiftly closing Highway 76 in both directions, according to NBC San Diego.
Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters from CALFIRESANDIEGO worked tirelessly to extinguish the flames and prevent them from spreading to adjacent buildings. The hardworking crew managed to make significant progress, as reported in an update on their Twitter account. Although the fire is still active, it is contained within the grocery store itself. Highway 76 remains closed from Cole Grade Road to Valley Center Road, affecting traffic and causing delays for residents and visitors alike.
.@CALFIRESANDIEGO [Update] #PaumaIC Firefighters continue to make good progress and have kept the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.
— CAL FIRE/SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) September 23, 2023
Hwy 76 is still closed from Cole Grade Rd. to Valley Center Rd. pic.twitter.com/NsnZXhmFN5
Pauma Valley Trading Center is described by Yelp reviewers as a small, well-stocked, and friendly market in an area with few grocers, per NBC San Diego's report.
