Fire crews quickly quell small brush fire in Grantville
Jan 23, 2025
Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the neighborhood where the fire broke out.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — San Diego fire crews worked to stop yet another vegetation fire that erupted in Grantville Thursday morning.
The fire was first reported around 9:12 a.m. in the area of 5960 Fairmont Avenue — east of the Interstate 15, near the area's Home Depot. Active flames appeared to have stamped out when SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky flew over the scene around 9:45 a.m.
According to San Diego Fire-Rescue, a total of 50 personnel were dispatched to the fire, including three helicopters and two brush rigs. An investigator was also assigned to determine the cause of the fire.
This was the second brush fire to spark along the Interstate 8 corridor in a matter of days. The first burned through a Mission Valley hillside adjacent to the Fashion Valley Mall, forcing evacuations in southern Linda Vista as it threatened a number of homes.
It comes as stubborn, arid conditions paired with Santa Ana winds continue to pose a significant risk for erratic fire behavior.
Much of the county has been under a Red Flag Warning for fire danger on-and-off for weeks as these conditions have persisted. The current warning is due to expire Friday morning after it was extended by the National Weather Service earlier this week.
This protracted fire danger has been precipitated, at least in part, by what has been the single driest start to the region's traditional "rainy season" on record, with months of no measurable rainfall and return of severe drought following two years of historically wet winters.
The unrelenting conditions primed for fast-moving blazes have put residents on edge over of what the next major wildfire could look like in San Diego — and whether emergency response officials are prepared.
Although San Diego may soon get a bit of a break from this seemingly unending dryness: Forecasters with NWS are projecting the region may get some precipitation as early as this Saturday as a cold, upper level low pressure system moves down from the north.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.