Photos: Steve Marcotte / OsideNews
Update: One home had minor fire damage. The fire is currently contained in the riverbed according to OPD Chief McCoy.
The City of Oceanside reported as of 7:43 p.m., the fire which blackened 50 acres of the riverbed is 20 percent contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
At about 6:30 p.m., city officials announced all evacuations were lifted. The evacuation center located at El Camino High School (400 Rancho Del Oro Road) was closed.
Oceanside CA- A fire began in the San Luis Rey Riverbed near North River Rd and College shortly after noon. Oceanside Fire responded to the area known as The President Streets neighborhood. There are varying reports of structures involved but we are unable to confirm.
Officers went door-to-door evacuating Andrew Jackson Street, Leon Street and Stallion Drive residences affecting approx 40-50 homes (100 people). Please assist public safety officials by remaining clear of the area. Del Rio Elementary began voluntary evacuation around 1:15 p.m.
The fire traveled west down the riverbed until around 3:00 p.m., when the wind switched directions and started traveling east towards Bonsall. The blaze was able to jump North River Road and started heading towards a church but was quickly extinguished by firefighters.
No air support was available to Oceanside firefighters as many of the departments resources are tied up with the Poinsettia fire in Carlsbad.
The Oceanside Unified School District posted on its website that all schools would be closed on Thursday. It said no decision has been made regarding school for Friday.
El Camino High School, La Costa Canyon High School and Mission Hills High School are being used as evacuation centers.
NCTD is also being affected by the fires. These are the impacted BREEZE routes:
395 Detour
388/389 Traffic on I15
309 Detour on South end and San Luis Rey
308 Detour for Del Dios
303 San Luis Rey closure
313 San Luis Rey closure
315 San Luis Rey closure and CP detour
101 delays due to traffic on 101
351 Bear Valley
353 Bear Valley
354 Bear Valley
The San Luis Rey Transit Center in Oceanside is also closed.
click on thumbnail image for larger photo
Genevieve Ruddock applies face paint called Gopi Dots during The Encinitas Street Fair on April 30. She recently returned from an eight-month India trip teaching children art. Since she started traveling extensively to India, she has completed various art projects with the children from tie-dye to mural painting. (Photo by Cam Buker)
