SANTEE, Calif. (KGTV) -- No structures were damaged after a small brush fire broke out in Santee Tuesday afternoon.
The fire started in a river bottom near State Route 52 and Cuyamaca Street around 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The San Diego County Sheriff's Department assisted with road closures and evacuations at Prospect and Olive, but later tweeted out that no further evacuations were needed.
Watch Commander: @SDSOSantee advised no further evacuations needed. No structures damaged. Media staging area is at corner of Prospect and Atlas View.
— San Diego Sheriff (@SDSheriff) June 26, 2018
While working to extinguish the fire, a drone flying in the area forced a Cal Fire helicopter to land.
"When firefighting assets show up to a fire, we’re flying at a very low level," said Tony Webber, the Deputy Sheriff pilot that was flying air support for fire crews. "We’re at the same level as a drone, and if we collide, that could kill us. It could take (our) chopper out of the air, and it’s very dangerous."
The fire agency took the opportunity to remind the public not to fly drones near fires.
1/2 - @CALFIRESANDIEGO is assisting Santee Fire in the area of the 9400 blk of Prospect Ave. Shortly after the arrival of our helicopter, a drone was observed in the airspace of the fire forcing the helicopters to land.#ProspectFire pic.twitter.com/l8odvZyo8V
— CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) June 26, 2018
2/2 #ProspectFire - The unauthorized intrusion of our airspace by drone pilots is a danger to responders and the public in the area of the fire and will be prosecuted.#IfYouFlyWeCant pic.twitter.com/VAmHwbjuwj
— CAL FIRE SAN DIEGO (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) June 26, 2018
Watch video from the scene in the player below:
