Wildfire Burns Near San Diego Safari Park, Mostly Contained

SAN DIEGO, CA — A wildfire that spread over hilly terrain in a rural area a few miles east of San Diego Zoo Safari Park, blackening 49 acres, was roughly 90% contained Saturday.

"SDFD crews continue to monitor the incident and make progress on containment," according to a statement from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

On Saturday morning, SDFD was "doing mop-up and checking for any hot spots," one official said.

No injuries or structural damage have been reported.

The blaze erupted for unknown reasons at about 2:30 p.m. Friday off the 17700 block of San Pasqual Valley Road, just south of San Pasqual Academy in northern San Diego, Cal Fire reported.

Within 45 minutes, according to the state agency, the eastward-moving flames were posing an "immediate" threat to at least one structure -- an outbuilding -- as ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water- dropping helicopters fought the fire.

By 4 p.m., the personnel had significantly subdued the blaze and were getting close to halting its spread, Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said.

There were no reported effects from the fire on the operations of the popular northern San Diego wild-animal park down the road from the burn zone.

Crews had the growth of the blaze halted as of 6:30 p.m., according to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, Cornette said.