San Diego fire: Firefighters stop forward progress of Santee brush fire; authorities urge caution

Santee fire update: Firefighters have stopped the forward progress of a brush fire in Santee that prompted evacuations of nearby businesses on Sunday evening, March 29, according to local authorities.

The Santee fire was reported near the 100 block of Town Center Parkway, with crews responding to flames close to the San Diego River and surrounding commercial establishments. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office received the call about the San Diego fire shortly after 6:30 p.m., according to NBC San Diego.

Deputies evacuated nearby commercial stores, including Walmart and Michaels, while confirming that no residential evacuations had been ordered at the time, the outlet reported. Authorities urged the public to avoid the area until further notice as the fire in Santee remained active.


Images from a UC San Diego (AlertCalifornia) camera showed bright orange flames burning near the shopping center. According to CBS 8 San Diego, a firefighting helicopter was called in to make aerial water drops to help contain the San Diego fire.

No injuries or damage to structures were immediately reported.

In an update, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office said firefighters have now stopped the forward progress of the fire in Santee. Authorities asked the public to remain mindful of crews still working in the area and thanked residents for their cooperation. The department also acknowledged support from law enforcement, firefighting, and first responder partners who assisted during the incident.


Officials reminded residents that fire season is year-round in Southern California and urged everyone to keep evacuation plans in place and communicate with families and neighbors.