A late-night brush fire near Grossmont Center in La Mesa was quickly contained Saturday after it sparked at a homeless encampment.
The fire was reported around 10:00 PM Saturday evening in the 8600 block of Center Drive, directly across the street from the Target store. La Mesa police officers arrived first and attempted to control the flames with fire extinguishers, but the fire spread too rapidly.
Heartland Fire & Rescue dispatched Engines 12 and 13, which arrived within minutes. Crews got water on the flames and declared the fire knocked down almost immediately. No structures were threatened, and no evacuations were ordered.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Authorities have not said whether anyone from the encampment is suspected of starting it.