Smoke from a brush fire in the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Extension just west of the I-5 in Del Mar
A small, mid-morning brush fire in a Del Mar canyon June 25 grew in size during the early afternoon sending plumes of smoke into the sky just four miles from Surf Cup’s biggest soccer tournament of the year.
Despite the smoke and dramatic scenes of firefighting helicopters scooping water from a lake behind the playing fields, cars continued to come and go throughout the day with eastbound traffic on Via de la Valle backed up two miles to the freeway. Fortunately, it was an off day at the San Diego County Fairgrounds.
The fire was contained by early evening, thanks to the skilled efforts of firefighters in the air and on the ground but it was a stark visual reminder of why there are continuing concerns about the wisdom of allowing massive gatherings of people and cars in the San Dieguito River Valley – in direct violation of a grant deed that governs use of that leased land – and the impact on neighboring communities and surface street traffic in the event of a more serious emergency. Unhindered evacuations would be critical not just for the thousands of players and families to exit the playing fields, but for many more thousands of residents who would use the same routes to safety.
Business as usual
The City of San Diego’s failure to enforce the Grant Deed restrictions generated an April 2023 lawsuit that among other goals seeks to limit Surf Cup Sports’ use of the fields to 25 days a year as stipulated in the Grant Deed. Even before the lawsuit, San Diego officials – including City Councilman Joe LaCava whose District One encompasses the sports fields – have studiously looked the other way to avoid addressing or taking action on complaints about the increased, daily use of the fields and accompanying traffic, noise, and dust.
The County of San Diego appears to be in lockstep with the City. When specific concerns about unsustainable levels of traffic and numerous accidents on San Diego County Route S-6 (Via de la Valle) near the Surf Cup Sports entrance were raised by the Whispering Palms Community Council in a recent letter to County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer, the response was equally evasive:
“After close review of the issue,” an aide to Supervisor Lawson wrote in May 2024, “it appears this situation directly involves the City of San Diego. The County of San Diego and Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer does [sic] not have any authority to directly address your concerns. Because you live in our County Supervisorial District, we are happy to forward your concern along to the City Council Member’s office.”
Morning traffic was backed up two miles to the I-5 freeway