Brush fire in San Diego's Sorrento Valley forces evacuations

A fast-moving brush fire erupted in San Diego's Sorrento Valley on Monday morning, forcing mandatory evacuations for thousands of residents and triggering a large-scale firefighting response involving hundreds of personnel and multiple aircraft. The blaze, which ignited near Vista Sorrento Parkway and Sorrento Valley Boulevard just east of Interstate 805 around 9:20 a.m., grew rapidly to approximately 90 acres amid dry vegetation and wind conditions.

At its peak, mandatory evacuation orders were in place for more than 2,200 homes and businesses, with an additional 6,400 properties under evacuation warnings. The affected areas included specific blocks on Sand Crab Place and Corte Jardin Del Mar, the 5000 block of Sea Mist Lane, and later expanded to include the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and surrounding neighborhoods. A temporary evacuation point was established at Mandell Weiss Eastgate Park for displaced residents. By 8 p.m. Monday, all evacuation orders had been lifted, though road closures remained in effect on Sorrento Valley Boulevard.

Firefighting efforts were challenged by steep terrain. Dan Eddy, an assistant fire chief with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department,...