Brush fire breaks out at homeless encampment
By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA–Firefighters contained a one-acre brush fire Sunday night near a homeless encampment in the Loma Alta Creek in Oceanside, fire officials said.
Oceanside Fire Department crews responded to the blaze in the creek area west of Oceanside Boulevard and Wooster Drive.
According to fire investigators, the blaze was started by an uncontained cooking fire in one of the many known homeless encampments in the area. The fire burned in heavy brush and trees before fire crews were able to contain it. Crews remained on the scene to mop up the area which lasted approximately 2.5 hours.
The fire impacted the Sprinter rail line that runs parallel to Oceanside Blvd. The North County Transit District shut down rail traffic along the train tracks so that firefighters could safely make access to the fire.
The Oceanside Fire Department says the use of fire is common in homeless encampments throughout the city and continues to pose a serious threat to the community.
Residents are encouraged to call 911 if any sign of fire coming from any areas of brush including areas with known homeless encampments, fire officials said.
