A property owner in the rural North County community of Rainbow whose burn pile allegedly grew into a brush fire that briefly threatened homes Wednesday has been issued a misdemeanor citation, a Cal Fire spokesperson said.
The property owner had been issued a permit allowing a 4-by-4-foot burn pile to dispose of landscape debris, but the pile instead was estimated to be about 30-by-30-feet in size before it spread, Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said.
Firefighters were dispatched shortly after noon to the growing fire on Rainbow Valley Boulevard near Canyon Heights Road. The blaze prompted brief evacuations of residents in the area.
Two air tankers were called in to make drops. Fire crews halted forward progress of the flames shortly after 12:50 p.m. and evacuations were lifted shortly after that, Cornette said.
In all, the fire charred just over 1.6 acres.
Cornette said the property owner was charged with allegedly allowing the fire to escape.
Residential burn permits are granted to property owners who agree to follow several safety rules such as having good clearance around the burn areas, a water supply handy, ensuring an adult is present and having a tool like a shovel handy so they can keep the flames from spreading. Cal Fire typically suspends burn permits during the summer months because of heightened fire risk.