CARLSBAD (CNS) - A vegetation fire was contained Saturday near the Buena Vista Lagoon, after some residences in the area were briefly evacuated.
The Carlsbad Police Department announced that the fire was contained at about 2 p.m. Saturday.
"Please continue to stay clear of the area while we finish up," police tweeted. "We will let you know when the roads reopen."
Fire crews from multiple agencies battled the fire starting at 1:15 p.m. around the Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad. Crews from the Carlsbad Fire Department responded to the area of State Street, Laguna Drive and Buena Vista Circle.
Out of an abundance of caution, authorities evacuated residences on Buena Vista circle, Kremeyer Circle and Laguna Drive near the lagoon.
Michael Soares and his wife were some of the people evacuated. The flames came dangerously close to their condo on Laguna Drive.
They were able to return once the fire was contained.
“I was told that they [firefighters] got the perimeter before anything else, which was great because quite frankly it save Laguna Row and the homes on Buena Vista so we’re really fortunate," Soares said.
The Oceanside Police Department, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and the California Highway Patrol also helped firefighters in the effort.
The public was advised to avoid the area. Police said Carlsbad Boulevard into Oceanside was impacted and drivers should choose an alternate route.
A helicopter scooped up water from the lagoon and dropped it on hot spots at 1:41 p.m., officials said.
At 2:25 p.m., The city of Carlsbad tweeted that the fire had been contained to about two to three acres. Areas east of the fire may continue to smell smoke and see ash in the air for the next several hours due to winds.
Fire contained to about about 2-3 acres. Reported at 12:40. Parts of #Carlsbad could still smell smoke and see ash for couple of hours due to wind
— City of Carlsbad (@carlsbadcagov) June 25, 2022
As of 2:42 p.m., northbound and southbound traffic on I-5 off ramps to Las Flores Drive have reopened, Caltrans San Diego tweeted.
UPDATE: The NB/SB I-5 off-ramps to Las Flores Dr have reopened to traffic. There may still be slowing through the area, due to an earlier vegetation fire.
— Caltrans San Diego (@SDCaltrans) June 25, 2022
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