Last night, a fast-moving brush fire dubbed the "Leigh Fire" flared up in the hills near Spring Street and Leigh Avenue in Spring Valley, briefly pushing residents out of a nearby apartment complex and sending emergency crews scrambling to set up a temporary evacuation point in a shopping center lot. Firefighters from San Miguel Fire & Rescue and county partner agencies kept the flames from spreading farther toward canyon-side neighborhoods, and sheriff's officials said one person was detained as a possible suspect. Bomb-and-arson detectives were called in as crews wrapped up extinguishment and investigators started digging into what sparked the blaze.
Containment and incident details
San Miguel units initially logged the vegetation fire at about 2 acres and listed a temporary evacuation point at the Target parking lot at 935 Sweetwater Road, according to ALERT San Diego. The incident page urged residents to rely on official evacuation maps and local emergency channels for up-to-date public safety information.
Evacuations and investigation
Local reporting later noted that crews had stopped the forward rate of spread, holding the blaze to roughly 5 acres as mop-up continued, and that an apartment complex near Spring Canyon Road was temporarily evacuated. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office told NBC 7 San Diego that deputies had detained one person as a possible suspect and that bomb-and-arson detectives were on their way to the scene.
San Miguel's role and regional context
San Miguel Fire & Rescue, which provides fire protection for Spring Valley and several nearby communities, took the lead on the initial attack and coordinated with county resources to shield homes and businesses. Coverage of the district's service area and responsibilities helps explain how quickly nearby units can move on vegetation fires in East County.
What residents should know
Investigators have not released any charges or the identity of the detained person while they work to determine the cause, and officials cautioned that details could shift as evidence is reviewed. Residents are advised to keep an eye on ALERT San Diego and local media for updates on any fully lifted evacuation advisories and the investigation.
