San Diego fire crews scrambled to battle a blaze in the riverbed of the San Diego River on Monday afternoon. According to the San Diego Fire Department, multiple reports of smoke were received around 3:14 p.m., with one motorist noting the presence of smoke off the WB 8 near the Morena Blvd. exit. The fire occurred in the 5100 block of Linda Vista Road, prompting a swift response from emergency personnel.
The fire department reported that the conflagration consisted of several spot fires distributed in an area near Friars between Morena Blvd. and Napa. In a bid to manage the flames and ensure the safety of the commuters, Friars Rd. was promptly closed from Sea World Drive to Morena Blvd. The San Diego Police Department later reopened the roads at around 3:55 p.m..
A total of 43 fire personnel were dispatched to wrestle the flames, which included 4 engines, a division chief, 5 administrators, a helicopter, 2 brush rigs, a water tender, and 5 battalion chiefs. An investigator was also on scene to probe into the cause of the inferno. The San Diego Fire Department's incident webpage lists the units that were assigned to the incident; however, it was noted that neither a Red Cross assignment nor a public information officer was designated for this event.
The San Diego Fire Department's X account marked the situation as a Vegetation 1st Alarm and stated that the first unit arrived on scene within approximately 6 minutes after the initial call. This rapid response underscores the urgency and efficiency with which local fire crews are tackling emergent threats to the community and landscape.
SDFD is working a Vegetation 1st Alarm at 5100-5199 Linda Vista Rd. The call was received on 01/08/2024 at 03:13:13 PM and unit(s) arrived at 03:19:42 PM. Updates at: https://t.co/fwZ1nlc4d2 #FS24004835
— SDFD Newsworthy Incidents (@SDFD_Incidents) January 8, 2024
Concerned residents seeking more information about the vegetation fire or its aftermath have been directed to reach out to the San Diego Police Department. The officials have yet to release details on the extent of the damage or the speculated cause of the fire.
