Close-up image of San Diego Fire and Rescue truck from and unknown date and time.
A blaze that officials dubbed the Alvarado Fire began burning near Interstate 8 on Thursday afternoon.
The fire was first reported in the 4300 block of Alvarado Canyon Boulevard in the Grantville neighborhood of San Diego at about 3:45 p.m.
San Diego fires on Thursday
The flames managed to char about a half-acre before Copter 3 and firefighters on the ground were able to stop the forward progress of the fire.
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The fire was one of three around the county on Thursday afternoon, including a 3-acre blaze in La Jolla near Gilman Drive that prompted evacuations (the order has since been rescinded), and a much larger vegetation fire down by the border, which, as of 4:15 p.m. had been 0% contained and burned 150 acres on Otay Mountain.
Of serious concern to firefighters and residents is the fact that Thursday's forecast is for the strongest winds of a week of Santa Anas.