Big Friday Fire Shuts Down San Miguel Road Causing Residents Alarm and a Struggle to Return Home
If you're wondering what all the smoke and sirens were about on Friday afternoon, a residential fire was engulfing the back structures at 5606 San Miguel Road. It was a hot 108° that day, but this fire was even hotter.
I was up in La Jolla when my friend called to tell me there was a fire very close to my property. She could see it from her home and told me that she would go check it out to make sure that it wasn't on my property.
San Miguel Road was blocked at the intersection of Bonita Road and the bridge, and the police weren't letting anyone in. She parked her car and walked in. After reassuring me that it was a few houses down the street, she sent back the following photos. (The banner photo is also hers.)
Click on images to enlarge
According to witnesses, there were four Battalion Chiefs, eight fire engines, two fire trucks, two ambulances and one investigator on the scene. SDG&E came to shut off the utilities and it was rumored that the cause of fire would be investigated by the San Diego County Sheriff's Bomb/Arson Unit.
"The Bomb/Arson Unit investigates all matters relating to arson, suspicious fires, fire injuries, fire death, explosions, explosive injuries, explosive related deaths, and the recovery and safe disposal of homemade bombs and military munitions. The Bomb/Arson Unit provides service throughout San Diego County to any law enforcement agency which seeks assistance."—San Diego County Sheriff's Office
Those nearby reported hearing the large BOOM of an explosion. Others heard three explosions. Apparently three propane tanks had exploded.
The fire destroyed a large shed, one small shed and an RV parked on the property. The five people living in those structures escaped without harm. The big shed was incredibly close to the house and it was sheer luck that the house didn't catch on fire.
You can see from the arial view below the two sheds, RV and possible animal structure that were obliterated.
Here's a short video from CBS 8 San Diego in case you missed it.
The police had the intersection blocked for many hours, maybe as late as 5 or 6:00.
I sheltered in place at my friend's house for an hour or two. Thank goodness for this caring friend and her husband for sharing their home and her photos!
A friend on San Miguel Road would check periodically and let me know if the road was cleared. She suggested that I get on SR-54 to SR-125 and get off on San Miguel Ranch Road and head to Proctor Valley Road.
I have never been good at maneuvering mazes so I thank my lucky stars for my friend that showed me the way. It had been a long day and I was glad to be home.
The message I heard over and over from various community members was how nice it was to have a quiet, traffic-free San Miguel Road for a few hours. It was like the old days before 19,000 toll-avoidance vehicles started cutting through our neighborhoods.
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