Learn about recent fires on our area. If you’d like to report a fire for us to post please email info@kensingtonfiresafe.org.
December 1, 2024: Small brush fire in the canyon between Fairmount and Van Dyke, likely caused by a homeless encampment.
October 31, 2024, The Montezuma Fire: A massive fire tore through the canyons south of Montezuma Road devouring 39 acres of brush. Due to the swift response from firefighters on the ground and water drops from the air the damage was minimal. No one was injured and only one home was destroyed.
September 8, 2024: A swift response prevented disaster when a fire broke out in Alder Canyon on a scorching 103-degree day. No injuries or damage, but this close call reminds us: it’s time to clear flammable brush and protect our neighborhood from future fires.
May 5, 2021: SDFD crews responded to a report of a brush fire in the area of Aldine and Fairmount. They located two small fires under 1/4 acre and were able to prevent them from spreading. No injuries or damage to any structures. These fires looks to have been started at a homeless encampment.
January 9, 2021: A beat-up F150 pickup truck, abandoned for one or two weeks, exploded on 39th near Monroe. Thankfully, police say, no one was hurt. Thank you, firefighters, for dashing into action so quickly. And to our neighbors for the alerts.
October, 2019 – Fire in Fairmount canyon, dozens of homes evacuated and several streets closed.
2016 – Small brush fire in the canyon at Alder and Fairmount
2014 – A small brush fire off I15 near Adams Avenue
1985 – Normal Heights Fire burned 300 acres, destroyed 76 houses and damaged 57 others. Damage was set at $9 million. 1,000 to 1,500 people were evacuated. It was, at the time, the worst brush fire in San Diego history.
https://www.sandiego.gov/fire/about/majorfires/1985normalheights
From the archives: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/local-history/story/2020-06-30/from-the-archives-normal-heights-fire-struck-35-years-ago-today
1956 – Four alarm fire in Kensington Park area resulted in twenty-five homes damaged and 19 firefighters treated for injuries. https://www.sandiego.gov/fire/about/majorfires/1956kensing
1962 – 1969?? – a Kensington resident remembers her aunt talking about their grandmother being evacuated because of a fire. We weren’t able to find any published report on it.
1930’s – From another Kensington resident: A local history mentioned a fire at the original Haven back before Kensington was incorporated into San Diego City limits. The fire department supposedly watched the building burn because they weren’t allowed to cross the line.