SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — Police were searching for a suspected arsonist after a small brush fire broke out Monday afternoon close to Highway 78 in northern San Diego County, closing two lanes of the freeway for around two hours.
Firefighters responded to a 1/4-acre brush fire — dubbed the Nissan Fire — that broke out just before 2 p.m. Monday close to Hwy 78 near Haymar Drive and Luiseño Way near College Boulevard in Oceanside, according to Watch Duty.
The Vista Fire Department said the forward progress was stopped before the fire hit the nearby freeway. A second fire also ignited nearby that had to be extinguished by firefighters.
In an update later Monday, authorities confirmed officers were searching for a suspected arsonist in the nearby area who is believed to have started the fire.
Officers with the Oceanside Fire Department closed several eastbound lanes on Hwy 78 Monday afternoon while firefighters worked to douse the brush fire. Caltrans reported the number two and three lanes of eastbound 78 were closed for firefighting activity.
All lanes were reopened to traffic by 4 p.m. Monday afternoon, Caltrans said in an update. Check real-time traffic at traffic.511sd.com.
Check back for updates on this developing story
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