SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A brush fire broke out Monday near Lake Morena, sending up smoke that could be seen from Interstate 8.

The fire, dubbed the Kitchen Fire, was reported around 10:30 a.m. in the area of Old Highway 80 and Kitchen Creek Road, in the southeastern reaches of the Cleveland National Forest.

The fire had reached 25 acres by 11:45 a.m. and was growing at a moderate rate of spread, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service said on X, formerly Twitter. Shortly after 2 p.m., the fire was at 43 acres and 5% contained.

“Crews are making good progress on both flanks of the fire,” the department said.

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Nearby Boulder Oaks Campground was evacuated as a precaution.

The Kitchen Creek Road off-ramp on eastbound I-8 was closed, Caltrans San Diego said.

Cal Fire San Diego was assisting in the firefight, which involved 13 engines, four crews and six aircraft.

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