Rancho Bernardo fire forces evacuations, road closures

A brush fire burned about seven acres in North County on Wednesday. Firefighters stopped forward progress just after 11 a.m., and most evacuation orders were lifted by 1:30 p.m., officials said.

The northbound and southbound offramps from Interstate 15 to Camino Del Norte reopened by 5 p.m., according to Caltrans. Other road closures on Camino Del Norte were still in effect as of 3:15 p.m., according to the San Diego Police Department.

The fire broke out Wednesday morning and was threatening homes and prompting evacuation orders. No homes burned. One person suffered burn injuries, San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Jose Ysea said.

The blaze was reported at 8:55 a.m. near Bernardo Center Drive and Camino del Norte, Ysea said. Approximately 175 firefighters from Cal Fire, the San Marcos Fire Department, the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Department and other agencies were on scene by 11 a.m., according to SDFD.

An evacuation order was issued for an area just west of I-15, with areas to the west of that under an evacuation warning. Evacuees were directed to the At Home store's parking lot at 12080 Carmel Mountain Road.

Rolling Hills Elementary School students evacuated to Poway High School. The San Diego Police Department said RB Kinder Care had also evacuated and directed parents to pick up children at another site.