Carlsbad brush fire forces evacuations, causes little damage

CARLSBAD (CNS) - A brush fire spread through a canyon in a residential neighborhood near Agua Hedionda Lagoon Wednesday amid gusty Santa Ana winds, forcing evacuations of hundreds of people but causing only minimal structural damage and no reported injuries.

The blaze erupted for unknown reasons off Park and Sunnyhill drives in Carlsbad about 2:30 p.m., according to city officials.

The flames spread rapidly up hillsides topped by residences as ground crews and personnel aboard firefighting aircraft scrambled to subdue the fire.

Police cleared residents out of 200 to 250 houses on various stree...