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Suspicious brush fire in Santee under investigation

The Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is investigating a suspicious brush fire in Santee that started Friday around 11:30 a.m.
Credit: KFMB

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Firefighters were able to extinguish a blaze that has burned a vegetation area in a riverbed near Mast Park in Santee, according to a sheriff's lieutenant. 

Now the Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit is investigating a suspicious brush fire in Santee.

According to Sergeant Hampton with San Diego Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit, the fire on was first reported Friday, February 26 just before 11:30 a.m. near the 9100 block of Carlton Hills Boulevard in the river bed just south of Mast Park.  

Deputies from the Santee Sheriff's Station arrived on the scene to support the Santee Fire Department. Deputies evacuated Mast Park temporarily as a precaution and nearby residents were also notified about the fire. 

The fire was quickly brought under control with crews on the ground and a  Sheriff's ASTREA helicopter helped with water drops. There are no reports of structures being damaged and no one was hurt.

A person was seen leaving the area where the fire started carrying a gas can. ASTREA made loudspeaker announcements about the suspect, while deputies searched on the ground. A person of interest was spotted at a nearby business, but deputies determined he was not involved with the fire.

Sheriff's Bomb/Arson has taken over the investigation. Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call the Sheriff's Department at (858) 565-5200. You can also call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.

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