California authorities evacuate shopping center due to brush fire

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (CBS, KYMA/KECY) - A brush fire in Oceanside prompted authorities to evacuate a shopping center Sunday and shut down a busy freeway.

Oceanside Fire Department was alerted around 2:23pm of a vegetation fire burning near Mission Avenue and Frazee Road.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they discovered several spot fires burning in a dry brush-filled area just behind the North Town Center shopping area which is home to a Walmart, Vons, Chevron, and several other businesses.

Oceanside police told CBS 8 that the shopping center was evacuated, and both sides of SR-76, near the area where the fire was burning, were shut down. Fortunately, no homes were threatened by the flames.

Oceanside police could not confirm the cause of the fire at that time, and authorities urged the public to stay clear of the area.