SOLANA BEACH, Calif. — A brush fire burned across open marshy terrain alongside San Elijo Lagoon Thursday, prompting precautionary evacuations of several hillside homes near the estuary.
The blaze erupted for unknown reasons off Holmwood Lane in Solana Beach about 5:30 p.m., according to sheriff's officials.
Deputies cleared residents out of three or four homes as a precaution as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, sheriff's Lt. Michelle Craig said.
A county helicopter was called in to make water drops in the difficult-to-access area where the blaze was spreading, North County Fire Protection District Capt. John Choi said.
An official estimate of the size of the burn area was not immediately available, but Choi said it initially was reported as roughly a half-acre.
News 8 crews on site reported the rate of spread had been stopped and crews were performing mop up as of Thursday night.
