Human activity sparked San Diego Co. fire

PALA, Calif., May 25 (UPI) -- A person sparked a fire that burned 122 acres in California, but fire officials said they were trying to determine if it was set deliberately or accidentally.

Cal Fire Capt. Nick Schuler said the hillside fire near Pala should be fully contained Monday, the San Diego Union Tribune reported.

Cal Fire said firefighters had halted the fire's threat to power lines and San Diego Gas & Electric crews were repairing several damaged lines. Several roads connected to California Route 76 near Pala were closed for several hours Sunday.

Cal Fire officials told the Union-Tribune they were trying to determine what started the fire.

"It wasn't lightning, and I've pretty much ruled out the power lines nearby," Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jim Garrett said. "I can tell you it's a human cause. It's too early in the investigation to say it was arson."

Two smaller fires broke out Sunday elsewhere in San Diego County, officials said.

Firefighters in Santee took about 20 minutes to extinguish a fire along state Route 67, a Heartland fire dispatcher said.

Near Tierrasanta, a fire charred about 1 1/2 acres before it was brought under control in about an hour, fire officials said.