Fire Near Del North High School Has Scorched 65 Acres Already

Wind-stoked flames tore over open swaths of land near Del Norte High School today, blackening scores of acres and moving toward homes but causing no immediate structural damage.

The blaze erupted for unknown reasons about 10:40 a.m. amid hot, dry and gusty conditions off Camino San Bernardo, near Nighthawk Lane in Rancho Penasquitos, according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

Within less than two hours, the flames had scorched about 65 open acres, according to Cal Fire.

Crews from various agencies attacked the flames on the ground and aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters, a dispatcher said.

No evacuation orders were reported. Students at the high school were directed to remain in their classrooms as a precaution, as were pupils at nearby Del Sur and Stone Ranch elementary schools and Oak Valley middle school, said Jessica Wakefield, spokeswoman for Poway Unified School District.

"So we're watching the fire, and we're talking to the fire department to monitor the situation," Wakefield said during the noon hour.

No serious air-quality issues were reported at any of the campuses, though the smoke was fairly thick at Del Sur Elementary, she said.