Earthquake Jolts San Diegans Awake

SAN DIEGO -- A magnitude-5.6 earthquake that struck Sunday in Riverside County was felt from downtown Los Angeles to San Diego County's South Bay area.

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Authorities in the city of San Diego reported no damage from the quake, which hit at 8:41 a.m. and was centered six miles east southeast of Anza and 20 miles south of Palm Springs.

However, the California Department of Forestry fire station in Warner Springs -- a northeast county area closest to the epicenter -- sustained earthquake-related structural damage, a CDF spokesperson said.

The CDF's Matt Streck reported that the quake caused the building's foundation to crack. Gashes so deep that firefighters could see through them also opened in the garage wall, Streck said.

A number of power poles on the property in the 39000 block of State Route 79 also cracked, though no outages were reported.

"The power company is on its way," Streck said.

San Diego fire dispatcher Pam Hunter said she was contacting police about a "ringing alarm" when she felt her desk shake.

"I had to stop before I said anything else," Hunter said.

Escondido resident Denise Davis said she was headed to the bathroom when her puppy ran to her, shaking.

Davis said she heard a noise like a "semi-truck rumbling down the street."

Davis said her house shook for what seemed like 30 seconds.

"It was a biggie," Davis said, calling the temblor "one of the largest" she has ever felt.

Oceanside fire Battalion Chief Peter Lawrence said he felt a "slow, gentle rolling motion."

Sheriff's Encinitas substation Sgt. Chuck Yancey said two of his deputies felt their vehicles shaking while stopped at traffic lights.

"It was a sharp, popping motion," Yancey said.

Chula Vista police and fire dispatchers said they felt the earthquake but no damage was reported.

A dispatcher at the Barona Fire Protection District said no one in her office felt the temblor. No damage was reported in that area.

Since the quake struck, scores of minor temblors have been reported in the area, according to a Web site operated by the U.S. Geological Survey.

No power outages were reported in San Diego County.

There were no reports of damage to the natural-gas system in the greater Coachella Valley operated by the Southern California Gas Co., according to company spokesperson Peter Hidalgo.

Hidalgo said the gas company had received a "slight increase" in the number of calls for service, mostly from people detecting the smell of natural gas.

Tips on what to do about gas service in the event of an earthquake are available on the utility's Web site at www.socalgas.com/safety.