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SAN DIEGO — Traffic was briefly blocked during rush hour Wednesday when a fire broke out near the freeway in Pacific Beach.

The fire was reported around 7 a.m. near Interstate 5 just north of Mission Bay, according to California Highway Patrol. Callers told CHP that smoke was coming up on both sides of the freeway near Grand Avenue.

San Diego Fire-Rescue sent crews to extinguish the flames and officials blocked one northbound lane. Smoke was no longer visible when SkyFOX flew over around 7:30 a.m., but drivers were still slowed through the area. The traffic jam reached back to Interstate 8.

A city spokesperson later said the smoke was from a brush fire that started at a homeless encampment in the riverbed. It reached about a quarter-acre in size.

“There was no structural damage, our crew members successfully put the fire out and there were no injuries,” Public Information Officer Maria Gamez wrote by email.