Bernardo Fire Crews Take Advantage of Calmer Winds

Crews rushed to take advantage of calmer winds early today as they battled a massive wind-stoked wildfire that has charred at least 800 acres of brushy open land west of Black Mountain.

The so-called Bernardo Fire erupted around 11 a.m. Tuesday off Nighthawk Lane, southwest of Rancho Bernardo, according to Cal Fire. As of 8 p.m., the blaze was only 5 percent contained but most of the flames had died down, said San Diego fire-rescue spokesman Lee Swanson.

Cal Fire reported that at least 800 acres had burned as of Tuesday night, while the San Diego County Sheriff's Department estimated around 850 acres had been torched.

No injuries or structural damage were reported as of early Tuesday evening. Authorities were expected to give an update on their progress at 8:30 this morning.

In the early hours of the fire, the sheriff's department evacuated more than 5,000 homes and businesses in communities between the Rancho Penasquitos and Rancho Santa Fe areas, sending people to Torrey Pines High School and later, Rancho Bernardo High School to wait out the emergency. Evacuation orders were lifted for the Fairbanks Ranch and eastern Rancho Santa Fe areas around 8 p.m. Tuesday, sheriff's officials said.

"As nightfall came, the high winds died down, which allowed firefighters to make good progress in putting out the flames," the sheriff's department said in a statement, adding that the fire was contained to east of Via De La Valle, west of Dove Canyon Road, north of Carmel Valley Road and south of Camino Del Sur.

Also evacuated on Tuesday were several area schools in the Poway Unified School District. On its website, the district said all of its schools would be open today, though it was understood many pupils may be absent if their families remained displaced.

The Rancho Bernardo High School evacuation center at 13010 Paseo Lucido remained open today. The Torrey Pines High School center was closed.

Although winds died down for firefighters overnight, the National Weather Service said more strong Santa Ana winds -- possibly up to 75 miles per hour in the most wind-prone areas -- were in store for today. The agency issued a red flag warning for strong winds, dry conditions and warm temperatures for the inland valleys and mountain areas until 8 tonight.

The cause of the Bernardo Fire was under investigation.

—City News Service