North County : Blaze Blackens 150 Acres at Lake Hodges

A large brush fire burned through 150 acres of trees and shrubs near Lake Hodges on Monday afternoon before firefighters brought it under control.

The cause of the blaze, which started about 2 p.m. in a canyon off Via Rancho Parkway, was still under investigation late Monday, officials said. It was under control by 4:16 p.m.

The fire came on the first day of the brush fire season in San Diego County, said Ida Cheney, San Diego Fire Department spokesman.

About 150 firefighters from as far away as National City were called in to fight the blaze, which was worsened by slight westerly winds, Cheney said. Firefighters were also called in from San Diego, Poway, Coronado, Rancho Santa Fe and Escondido, Cheney said.

No Structures Damaged

Firefighter Ron Chase of the Del Mar Fire Department was treated at Palomar Hospital after suffering slight smoke inhalation, hospital officials said.

Although no structures were seriously threatened by the fire, several residents could be seen watering the roofs of their homes as a precaution.

“When my wife called me at work to tell me about the fire, I thought she was just joking,” said John Cobbe, who lives on San Souci Drive, which overlooks Lake Hodges. “I thought the fire was going to come over the hill, but the winds died,” he said.

Three helicopters and two airplanes from the U.S. Department of Forestry dropped water and fire retardant on the blaze, Cheney said.

She added that the blaze was worsened by additional dry shrubs in the canyon.

“There is a lot of dry vegetation in the county because of the frost last year, which increases the possibility of fire hazards,” Cheney said.

Firefighting efforts were coordinated between the San Diego Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry, which had jurisdiction over the blaze, Cheney said.