A brief power flicker across parts of La Mesa on Tuesday was followed by a loud explosion behind a strip mall at 8120 El Paso Street. The blast came from near an SDG&E switching substation, tucked behind the Ross store, where restaurant workers Jorge and Rubio spotted a patch of grass on fire.
They rushed out with fire extinguishers and managed to knock most of it down before Engine 12 from Heartland Fire & Rescue arrived.
Firefighters arrived just after 12:21 p.m. and soaked the area with foam to prevent any reignition. The fire started directly under a set of low-hanging high-voltage lines, which do not have spacers to prevent contact. It’s not yet clear whether wind pushed the wires together or if a surge caused the spark.
Crew members thanked Jorge and Rubio for their quick thinking and effective response.
