San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec




San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913

The Daily Aztec

Brush fire near SDSU sparks road closure, apartment evacuations

Bombero+sofoca+incendio+de+maleza+al+este+del+campus+y+caus%C3%B3+evacuaciones.+
Jack Molmud
Bombero sofoca incendio de maleza al este del campus y causó evacuaciones.

UPDATE: 5:40 p.m.

A campus-wide email from university police around 5:30 p.m. said the fire is now fully contained.

The email did not identify a cause for the fire, but it said the San Diego Fire Arson Strike Team is currently investigating the incident.

A palm tree in a brush area on the east side of campus set on fire on the afternoon of Sept. 15.

The evacuation order for Villa Alvarado was lifted at 2:45 p.m. and Alvarado Road was reopened as of 5 p.m., the email said. Residents of the apartment complex, which bordered the fire, may retrieve masks at the front desk to prevent inhalation of any lingering smoke.

UPDATE: 1:50 p.m.

San Diego Fire Rescue officials said the fire is now mostly contained. No structures were threatened.

Original Story:

A brush fire near San Diego State led to the closure of the I-8 eastbound offramp onto College Avenue, according to Caltrans.

SDSU tweeted around 12:50 p.m. that university police was working with the San Diego Police Department to evacuate the Villa Alvarado apartments on the east end on campus.

The fire, which started on the west side of College Avenue, jumped to the east side of the street along the I-8 freeway. Fire officials said they are currently focusing on putting out flames on the east side of College Avenue as the western side has been mostly contained.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

About the Contributors
Bella Ross, Editor in Chief
Bella Ross is an SDSU senior double majoring in journalism and political science. She started working at The Daily Aztec in the news section in Fall 2017 and started to make videos for the newspaper in the Spring. She also works as an intern for Voice of San Diego and does some freelance work. In the past, she's worked at KPBS, inewsource and The San Diego Union-Tribune. She is hoping to report on national politics for a large newspaper one day. Follow her on Twitter @BellaMayaRoss.
Jack Molmud, Live editor
Jack is the editor for The Daily Aztec Live show. He transferred to SDSU in 2018 as a journalism major; reporting on many video stories for student housing, the southern border and school construction projects. Jack is a news writer at KUSI News and enjoys reading about music and politics in his free time. Follow his Twitter @Jmolmud.
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San Diego State University’s Independent Student Newspaper Since 1913
Brush fire near SDSU sparks road closure, apartment evacuations