Fire near SD Zoo Safari Park burns 365 acres, now fully contained

SAN PASQUAL VALLEY - The charred site of a wildfire that spread over an estimated 365 open acres near San Diego Zoo Safari Park last week was fully contained as of late this afternoon.

The fast-moving blaze, which caused no reported structural damage or injuries, erupted for unknown reasons shortly before 1:30 p.m. Friday off the 17000 block of state Route 78 in the San Pasqual Valley, according to Cal Fire.

Within 90 minutes, the blaze had burned across more than 200 acres, forcing residential evacuations as ground and airborne crews scrambled to corral the flames.

As the fire pushed to the southeast, authorities shut down state Route 78 between Bandy Canyon and Ramona Highlands roads as a safety precaution and to expedite the emergency operations in the rural area.

Sheriff's deputies cleared people out of homes potentially in the path of the fire. Vacated areas included neighborhoods along Via Cuesta; Via Vista Grande; Prestige Street; Day Star Way; Oak Grove, Rancho Villa, Rangeland, Rustic Villa and Weekend Villa roads; and Cinque Terre, Corniglia, Highland Hills, Horizon View and Rio Maggiore drives.

About six hours after the blaze broke out, firefighters had its spread halted and most of the active flames extinguished.

All the evacuation orders were lifted by early Saturday evening.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.