Crime & Safety
UPDATED: 1 Lane on I-15 South Remains Closed Due to Fire Near Deer Springs Exit
As of 1:30 p.m. Monday, all lanes but one had reopened on southbound I-15 just south of Gopher Canyon and north of Deer Springs, according to CHP. Due to a brush fire in the area, all lanes had at one point been closed Monday morning.
Updated at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 19:
Traffic on Interstate 15 south was backed up possibly as far as the Temecula area Monday due to a fire burning near the Deer Springs Road exit in northern San Diego County, California Highway Patrol reported.
One lane, the far right lane, remained closed as of 1:30 p.m., according to CHP.
The fire was reported at 9:31 a.m. Monday. Callers stated that vegetation was burning up the hillside on the right shoulder of the freeway, just south of the Gopher Canyon exit, according to CHP.
The fire blackened about a dozen acres of brush, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler said.
Fire crews had stopped the blaze from spreading further by about 11 a.m., and no area structures were threatened.
As a result of the blaze, the number three and four lanes were closed between the Gopher Canyon and Deer Springs exits, CHP reported.
A SigAlert had been issued at about 10 a.m. for all lanes when a helicopter landed on the freeway.
The closure was expected to remain in effect for "a couple more hours," CHP reported, as crews remained on scene.
—City News Service in San Diego contributed to this report.
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