A brush fire in a rural area near San Diego Zoo Safari Park blackened about seven acres Tuesday, briefly posing an imminent structural threat but causing no reported structural damage or injuries.<\/p>\n
The blaze erupted shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday off Highland Valley Road in Ramona, near Highland Trails Drive, according to Cal Fire.<\/p>\n
Ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters fought the fire, which moved dangerously close to a single structure, said Mike Cornette, a fire captain with the state agency. It was not immediately clear if it was a home or some other type of building that was threatened by the blaze.<\/p>\n
Firefighters had the spread of the flames halted by about 1:45 p.m., Cornette said.<\/p>\n
#Highland5Fire<\/a> [Final 4\/21\/2026 4:02pm] The fire was contained to 7.3 acres. The fire investigator has determined the cause to be a metal grinder. Remember to have a water source or fire extinguisher when working near dry brush and activate 911. One less spark, one less fire. pic.twitter.com\/diJsa3rxMc<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 CAL FIRE\/San Diego County Fire (@CALFIRESANDIEGO) April 21, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The cause of the fire was determined to be from a metal grinder, according to Cal Fire’s fire investigator. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t