VIDEO: Fire prompts closure of SR-76 in Pauma Valley
PAUMA VALLEY, Calif. — A structure fire in Pauma Valley prompted a road closure on State Route 76 Saturday morning.
Cal Fire says a call came in around 6:41 a.m. reporting a blaze at a 4,000 square-foot strip mall at 16220 CA-76 in Pauma Valley. Responding crews noticed the fire appeared to be coming from the ceiling of the structures.
The El Rey Mexican Restaurant and Pauma Valley Trading Center, a grocery store, were completely destroyed in the fire, Cal Fire told FOX 5.
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Around 8:30 a.m., fire officials reported the scene was still active with firefighters working to protect the surrounding exposed areas.
Cal Fire later reported the fire was knocked down at 9:18 a.m., however, smoke was still billowing from the damaged structures.
SR-76 was closed in both directions between Cole Grade and Valley Center Road, but has since reopened. Fire crews remained on scene for several hours for clean-up operations.
Multiple agencies assisted Cal Fire with a total of 65 firefighters on scene. This included San Pasqual Reservation, Pauma Fire Department, Pala Fire, Valley Center Fire and Rincon Fire Department.
No individuals were inside the structure when Cal Fire arrived, and no injuries have been reported.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
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