[SAN DIEGO (Sorrento Valley) Mon June 8, 2026, 9:30 a.m.]
A vegetation fire that broke out around 9:30 a.m. in the open space north of Sorrento Valley Boulevard drew a heavy aerial response Monday and was knocked down by late afternoon, according to Watch Duty.
On scene, SD Slackers watched San Diego County and City of San Diego helicopters trade passes with Cal Fire fixed-wing tankers, laying down water and red retardant across the brush. Among them was Cal Fire’s new C-130H Hercules, which entered service at the Ramona Air Attack Base four days earlier and can drop up to 4,000 gallons.
Also working the fire was Copter 127, a red SDG&E Black Hawk heli-tank making water drops. The utility built its aerial firefighting program after its power lines were found to have sparked the 2007 Witch Creek Fire, and now keeps leased Black Hawks — each carrying up to 1,000 gallons — staged year-round for Cal Fire and the county.
By 11:13 a.m. the fire hit 65 acres with a dangerous rate of spread, prompting evacuation orders and warnings across several zones, Watch Duty reported. Crews requested more tankers and two wildland strike teams.
SD Slackers also saw residents and workers step outside to watch as a line of news cameras tracked each pass. In the valley’s open space, a lone deer stood in the brush, looking toward the smoke.
By 12:52 p.m. the fire reached 90 acres but slowed, per Watch Duty, and tankers began to release. Forward progress was stopped by 3:02 p.m. at 20 percent containment. By evening most evacuations had cleared, with three zones still under order; Sorrento Valley Boulevard stayed closed except to residents with ID, and area trails were temporarily shut.
Crews will remain 24 hours or more to monitor hot spots, Watch Duty reported.
— On-scene photos, video and observations by SD Slackers. Fire status and evacuation details provided courtesy of Watch Duty / watchduty.org.
