A brush fire burning near the 300 block of Creelman Lane in Ramona sent deputies door to door with mandatory evacuation orders yesterday, as firefighters surged into the area to keep flames off nearby homes. Residents were warned to expect road closures and a wall of emergency vehicles, with some neighborhoods flagged in red for full evacuation and others shaded yellow under a warning status.
A temporary evacuation point is set up at Ramona High School, 1401 Hanson Lane, and large animals are being directed to the Ramona Rodeo at 421 Aqua Lane, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. In an X post, the department shared a color-coded map outlining the red mandatory zones and yellow warning areas under the hashtag #CreelmanFire. Officials also urged the public to stay away from the scene so crews can work safely and to respect any roadblocks that are set up.
#CreelmanFire If you live in Ramona, be aware of increased law enforcement and firefighting activity. A brush fire is burning near the 300 Block of Creelman Lane.
— San Diego Sheriff (@SDSheriff) July 22, 2026
An EVACUATION ORDER is in place for the shaded area in red shown in the map below. It means everyone in the… pic.twitter.com/T1YIW4WKfn
Fire Status and Threat
Cal Fire logged the initial report from the 300 block of Creelman Lane, and the blaze was quickly estimated at about 10 acres with a moderate rate of spread, threatening structures near Gem Lane, according to ABC 10News. Evacuation orders were posted for multiple SDC zones, and residents were urged to verify whether their address falls inside an affected area. Fire crews from county and local agencies remained on scene into the evening, working to shield homes and slow the fire’s advance.
Evacuation Map and Zones
Residents were directed to an interactive evacuation map where they can plug in an address to see whether they are in a mandatory order zone or a warning area. That tool is available on Genasys Protect. The sheriff’s X post highlighted the same map and the red and yellow legend incident managers are using to mark impacted neighborhoods, as shared by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department. Anyone unsure about their zone was told to err on the side of caution, leave if they feel unsafe and follow official directions.
Safety Tips and Resources
The San Diego County Office of Emergency Services reminds residents that an evacuation order means you must go immediately, taking pets, essential documents and any needed medications, per county guidance posted by the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services. If there is time, officials advise shutting off propane and gas supplies and keeping roads clear so emergency vehicles are not boxed in. People looking for shelter details were told to watch official channels for updates on openings and capacity.
Local Context
Ramona’s hills have a track record of turning small brush fires into fast-moving incidents, and past wildland blazes in the area have led to mandatory evacuations and destroyed structures. Hoodline coverage of the 2023 Bunnie Fire shows how quickly flames can run through the local landscape. Emergency managers said they were deploying resources with that history firmly in mind.
For current information, residents are urged to track local media and county emergency outlets. ABC 10News and the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services are providing ongoing updates on containment efforts, road conditions and shelter status. Officials emphasize that anyone inside the red-shaded zones must evacuate immediately and keep escape routes open for fire and law enforcement crews.
