Fire threat lessens along SR-67, most lanes open

Embers from a car fire spread to brush along state Route 67 south of Mt. Woodson Golf Club Friday afternoon, shutting down the road and prompting an evacuation advisory for several hours.

Flames gutted the four-door sedan about 2:30 p.m. and spread down a canyon along the right shoulder of the northbound lanes near Rock House Road, Cal Fire officials said.

Homes on a hillside nearby were threatened, so sheriff’s deputies advised residents to evacuate.

SR-67 was closed in both directions between Archie Moore and Poway roads for more than four hours, through the evening commute, as firefighters and aircraft dropping water and retardant battled the 20-acre blaze, fire officials said.

By 6 p.m., fire crews stopped the spread of the flames and mitigated the threat to homes on the hillside, fire officials said. Residents were told it was safe to return to their homes shortly after.

The two northbound lanes of SR-67 opened about 6:40 p.m. Two hours later, the two southbound opened and one of the northbound lane closed again, between Cloudy Moon Drive to Signal Mountain. The lane was to be closed overnight, California Highway Patrol officials said.

In the wake of the danger to homes, an evacuation center was set up at the Ramona Branch Library on Main Street and another one for large animals at the Ramona Fairgrounds on Aqua Lane. Sheriff’s Sgt. Carlos Medina said all animals had been evacuated by 5:30 p.m. Most of the residents in the area own horses, he said.

No injuries or structure damages were reported.

The blaze was 5 percent contained as of 6:30 p.m., fire officials said.