Brush Fire Threatening Homes Near Fashion Valley Mall Knocked Down

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Fire crews were busy battling a brush fire that broke out Tuesday afternoon off of Friars Road near the Fashion Valley Mall.

The brush fire was first reported just after noon on Tuesday in the 7000 block of Friars Road near the Fashion Valley Mall and nearby homes.

More than 100 firefighters, including San Diego Fire-Rescue, the City of Poway, and the City of Chula Vista, along with 20 fire engines, were battling the flames Tuesday afternoon. Air support was also called in.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department said at 1 p.m. fire crews were making quick work on the Friars Fire, and was asking the public to avoid Friars Road west of SR-163.

Fire crews were able to stop the forward progression of the fire at around three acres by 1:30 p.m. and will stay on the scene for several hours to extinguish hot spots.

Councilmember Raul Campillo posted on X that the fire may have caused some minor damage to apartments, but no structures were lost.

The evacuation orders and warnings were lifted by 4 p.m. You can view a map of evacuation orders here.

A resident from the apartment complex and one firefighter were taken to the hospital. It is unclear at this time the extent of their injuries.

A temporary evacuation point was set up in Snapdragon Stadium’s west parking lot for impacted residents.

*Evacuation notices for Fashion Valley Mall fire on Jan. 21, 2025. (County of San Diego)*

SkyFOX/KUSI in the SKY was over the fire Tuesday afternoon and smoke could be seen billowing from the hillside.

The San Diego County Office of Education Linda Vista campus and Linda Vista Innovation Center were impacted by the evacuations and stayed closed for the remainder of the day. SDCOE Linda Vista locations will reopen for regular hours on Wednesday.

A Sig Alert was issued for north and southbound off ramps from State Route 163 onto Friars Road due to the fire. Those ramps reopened to traffic just before 4:30 p.m.

SDG&E’s outage map showed mass power outages in the area that started just after noon on Tuesday. Around 3,000 people were without power as of 12:30 p.m.

Fire erupting on the hillside across from the Fashion Valley Mall on Jan. 21, 2025. (Courtesy of Chris Spade)
Brush fire erupts near Fashion Valley mall on Jan. 21, 2025. (SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky)
Brush fire erupts near Fashion Valley mall on Jan. 21, 2025. (SkyFOX/KUSI in the Sky)