All Lanes of I-8 Traffic Open as Crews Finish Work on Multiple Brush Fires

Updated at 2:24 p.m. April 12, 2013

All westbound lanes of the Interstate 8 were open just before 2 p.m. Friday as fire crews knocked down multiple small brush fires in La Mesa and El Cajon possibly sparked by a car, authorities said.

La Mesa police had warned motorists to stay clear of Interstate 8 and Murray Drive on the La Mesa-El Cajon border because of brush fires reported just before 1 p.m. Friday. Murray Drive traffic was open in both directions by 2 p.m.

La Mesa police told Patch that arson is not suspected, but authorities think a car may have sparked the fires driving by.

"There are no reports of structural damage or injuries due to the blazes," the CHP said.

"Multiple spot fires along I-8 Westbound from W. Main St. in El Cajon to Spring St. in La Mesa. Freeway shut down," said a Nixle alert at 1:35 p.m.

Several students from Grossmont High School told Patch that administrators kept them on campus as the school day ended, moving everyone to the back of campus near the sports fields.

An ALERTNOW message was sent to parents at 1:08 p.m.:

Attention parents we have two fires next to our campus and are evacuating all students safely to Harry Griffith Park.  Please do not come to campus as all students are safe.  If you plan to pick up your student at the regular time, please connect with them in Harry Griffith Park off of Milden Street.

District spokesperson Catherine Martin confirmed that the school was evacuated until the fire department gave them the okay. She said students returned to class and that they were dismissed at the normal time.

At 1:25 p.m., the California Highway Patrol posted on its website that fire officials advised "they might be here for one or two hours until fire is all knocked down."

But a CHP posting at 2:06 p.m. said: "All fires knocked down. Fire working on getting resources off the freeway now." At 2:22 p.m., La Mesa police said via Nixle alert that the fires were all out and LMPD and Astrea heliocopter were leaving the scene.

A Sig-Alert had been issued for the area, the CHP said.

—City News Service contributed to this report.

Stay with Patch for more updates.