Fire reported near SDSU campus grows to at least 40 acres

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Firefighters are responding to a brush fire burning southwest of the San Diego State University campus Thursday afternoon. Authorities have confirmed there is no threat to the campus.

The fire was reported in the canyon near Fairmount Avenue and Montezuma Road around 1:45 p.m. According to San Diego Police Department Lt. Dan Meyer, the fire appears to have sparked due to strong winds blowing through an area with overgrown brush and palm trees.

As of 4 p.m., the fire was estimated at 40 acres and remains at 0% containment.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for multiple neighborhoods surrounding the fire, starting south of Alvarado Canyon Road, west Hewlett Drive, north of Monroe Avenue and east of Montezuma Road.

Several schools were also impacted, including Hardy Elementary. Students at the school have been evacuated to Viejas Arena at SDSU, which can be accessed via Canyon Crest.

A temporary evacuation point has been added at Allied Gardens Recreation Center located at 5155 Greenbrier Ave., San Diego, 92120.

A map of the latest evacuation notice can be found below.

The eastbound Interstate 8 off-ramp at Fairmont Avenue was closed around 3:03 p.m. to aid in fire response and keep the public away from the area where the fire is burning, according to Caltrans.

A number of surface road closures were also put in place including:

• Collwood Boulevard between Monroe Avenue and Montezuma Road
• Montezuma Road between Fairmount Avenue and 55th
• Fairmount Avenue from I-8 to Aldine Drive
• Camino del Rio South at Fairmount Avenue

According to SDPD, these are anticipated to remain in place until at least midnight.

Above: Video of smoke visible from the fire near Fairmount Avenue and Montezuma Road.

People are advised to avoid the area due to fire response, plus be cautious of traffic delays and road closures.