SANTEE, Calif. (KGTV) — A brush fire erupted in the San Diego Riverbed behind Santee’s Town Center Sunday evening, prompting authorities to evacuate people from the shopping center.
San Diego County sheriff's officials said the fire was reported just after 6:40 p.m. in the riverbed near the 100 block of Town Center Parkway
According to Watch Duty, the blaze initially burned about 3-4 acres and was moving north at a slow rate of spread.
Sheriff's officials said deputies evacuated the shopping center's Walmart and Michaels stores; no residents were evacuated.
As the fire grew, crews requested additional units, including a water-dropping helicopter.
By about 9 p.m., Watch Duty and sheriff's officials reported firefighters stopped the fire's forward progress. Crews were expected to remains in the area to monitor any potential hot spots.
The cause of the fire, which charred around 5 acres, is under investigation.
Meanwhile, fire officials are concerned to see a brush fire this early in the season.
"I was driving in on the 8 freeway and I could see the smoke very early on in the incident," said Kyle Moyneur, Deputy Fire Chief of the City of Santee. "So, I made a comment to my kids, 'Wow, it's March, and we're seeing this.'"
Despite the hot, dry start to spring, first responders say they are prepared for incidents just like this.
"Within the city, well, we're fully staffed, and I think on Red Flag Day and days where we may anticipate this, we will upstaff, but this is going to be really an event that we'll lean on," said Moyneur.
