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Cloverdale brush fire in San Pasqual 100% contained, 100 acres

The wildfire that blackened about 100 open acres just west of San  Diego Zoo Safari Park Monday was possibly ignited by sparks from a passing car, not an arsonist as previously believed

Last updated: Thursday, August 16, 2018 AT 12:00 PM

Acres burned: 100
Containment: 100%
Location: 2100 block of San Pasqual Road near Escondido
Start date: August 13, 2018 - 3:08 p.m.
Cause: Sparks from a passing vehicle. 
Injuries: 1 firefighter 
Twitter Hashtags: #CloverFire, #CloverdaleFire
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Thursday - 12:00 PM

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Sparks from a passing vehicle -- not an arsonist, as previously believed -- ignited a wildfire that spread over about 100 open acres this week near San Diego Zoo Safari Park, authorities reported Thursday.

The blaze -- one of three to break out in the same general area in as many weeks -- erupted off state Route 78 and Cloverdale Road in the San Pasqual Valley shortly before 3 p.m. Monday, prompting residential evacuations but causing no reported structural damage or injuries.

Investigators believed for a time that the blaze was an act of arson, but concluded following further witness interviews that it had been ignited by "the rim of a tire that was throwing sparks into the brush along the side of the road," said Monica Munoz, spokeswoman for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

"Multiple fires along the San Pasqual Valley corridor, along with multiple points of origin, had the investigative team thinking (the fire was) intentional (Monday)," she said.

The blaze, dubbed the Cloverdale Fire, forced a closure of a stretch of SR-78, prompted the zoo park to close early for the day and left a firefighter with a minor injury.

As of 11:30 a.m. Thursday, crews had the smoldering burn area 100 percent contained, according to San Diego Fire Department.

In late July, a wildfire blackened an estimated 365 open acres east of the wild-animal theme park. Last week, another blaze scorched about 150 acres in the same general area.

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Tuesday - 4:00 PM

ESCONDIDO (NEWS 8) - The wildfire that blackened about 100 open acres just west of San  Diego Zoo Safari Park Monday was possibly ignited by sparks from a passing car, not an arsonist as previously believed, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. 

The blaze -- one of three to erupt in the same general area in as many weeks -- broke out near state Route 78 and Cloverdale Road in the San 
Pasqual area shortly before 3 p.m. Monday, prompting residential evacuations but causing no reported structural damage or injuries.

The fire as of Tuesday afternoon was 40% contained. 

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Tuesday -11:00 AM

SAN PASQUAL (NEWS 8) - A wildfire that investigators believe was deliberately set just west of San Diego Zoo Safari Park, one of three to erupt in the area in as many weeks, prompted evacuations and forced the closure of a stretch of the rural highway that fronts the popular wild animal exhibition grounds. 

Officials say the blaze broke out for unknown reasons off state Route 78 and Cloverdale Road in the San Pasqual area shortly before 3:00 Monday afternoon. 

Sheriff's deputies cleared people out of some homes along San Pasqual Valley Road as ground crews and personnel aboard firefighting aircraft worked to subdue the flames. 

Within two hours the blaze, dubbed the Cloverdale Fire, had grown to about 40 acres. 

As of 11 a.m., it was estimated to have burned 90 acres and was 40 percent contained.

Crews are working to reopen part of highway 78 near the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Monday - 8:10 PM

The San Diego Fire-Rescue metro arson strike team investigators determined that Monday's fire was deliberately set, according to Cal Fire San Diego officials. No structural damage or injuries have been reported.

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Monday - 7:30 PM

According to News 8 reporter Richard Allen at the scene of the Cloverdale Fire, firefighters have stopped the forward rate of the fire's spread.

The fire is currently at 100 acres as of this update and 15% contained. One firefighter was injured, according to fire officials. 

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5:18 PM

SAN PASQUAL (NEWS 8) - A vegetation fire has been reported in the area of state Route 78 and San Pasqual Valley Road, west of San Diego Zoo Safari Park, according to the California Highway Patrol.

According to Cal Fire San Diego, the fire has burned about 40 acres as of this update.

Authorities are evacuating homes in the 14400 blocks and 21200 blocks of San Pasqual Road in Escondido as crews fight the brush fire. 

A San Diego Zoo Safari park official told News 8 the park will close early so guests can leave the park. Guests will have to take East SR-78. The Safari Park said there currently no plans to evacuate or crating animals. Keepers do have hoses out in case they need to use them.

Caltrans San Diego says all lanes of SR-78 are closed between east of San Diego Safari Park and Cloverdale Road due to the fire.

This fire is the third to erupt in the area in as many weeks.


This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

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