ESCONDIDO - Firefighters responded to a 28-acre vegetation fire that threatened five homes, according to Cal Fire San Diego.
The brush fire, which is now 50 percent contained, developed Sunday morning at about 11:30 a.m. By about 1:00 p.m., the threat to structures had been mitigated.
California Highway Patrol initially shut down traffic in both directions on Interstate 15 at Gopher Canyon Road and Old Highway 395.
San Diego Gas & Electric was called to the scene to inspect power poles.
Cal Fire tweeted that the "the decision to close I-15 was made due to damage to power poles that support lines that cross I-15."
CHP re-opened northbound lanes at 1:27 p.m. Southbound lanes could be closed until 10:00 p.m.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
#GopherFire [update] The decision to close I-15 was made due to damage to power poles that support lines that cross I-15.
— CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) November 13, 2016
#GopherFire [update] IC reports structure threat has been mitigated, fire is at 15 ac 5% contained. pic.twitter.com/PkSNY2rHpv
— CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) November 13, 2016
#GopherFire [update] IC reports 10 acres, approx 5 homes immediately threatened. Both directions of I-15 and Old Hwy 395 closed in the area pic.twitter.com/rqrwHD08ID
— CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) November 13, 2016
@CALFIRESANDIEGO at scene of a 1 ac vegetation fire I-15 near Gopher Cnyn Rd. PIO en route.#GopherFire
— CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) November 13, 2016
One driver tweeted out a shot of the fire from the freeway.
I15 north at Escondido closed because of #gopherfire pic.twitter.com/bOAoWpbUSu
— Barbara scroggins (@babscroggins) November 13, 2016
