Lightning Ignites Over 100 Palm Trees in San Pasqual Valley

No injuries reported as crews battle early morning blaze in San Diego County.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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A series of lightning strikes early Tuesday morning sparked a fire at a palm tree grove in San Pasqual Valley, burning more than 100 trees and charring around 2 acres. Fire crews from Escondido, San Diego, and Cal Fire responded and were able to contain the blaze, which did not spread to any nearby structures.

Why it matters

Palm trees are a iconic part of the San Diego landscape, and the loss of over 100 trees in a single incident highlights the potential dangers of extreme weather events like lightning storms. The quick response from multiple fire departments prevented the fire from causing even more damage.

The details

The fire was reported shortly after 3 a.m. at a property off Highland Valley Road. Firefighters worked to put out the blaze, which was fueled by the multiple lightning strikes in the area. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not spread to any nearby structures.

  • The fire was reported around 3 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
  • Crews had the fire under control and roads reopened by around 5 a.m. the same morning.
  • Cal Fire firefighters returned to the site around 8:30 a.m. after a couple of trees were still smoldering.

The players

Escondido Fire Department

One of the fire departments that responded to the blaze in San Pasqual Valley.

San Diego Fire-Rescue

Another fire department that assisted in battling the palm tree fire.

Cal Fire

The state's fire protection agency that also responded to the incident.

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What they’re saying

“Crews worked quickly and were able to keep the fire from spreading to another grove nearby.”

— Candace Hadley, San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson

The takeaway

This incident highlights the potential for extreme weather events like lightning storms to cause significant damage to the local landscape and infrastructure in San Diego County. The coordinated response from multiple fire departments helped prevent the blaze from escalating further, but the loss of over 100 iconic palm trees is a reminder of the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in the face of climate change.