Plane Crashes Into San Diego Neighborhood Sparking Fires Across Multiple Homes

A small aircraft went down in a San Diego neighborhood early in the morning, igniting fires in at least 15 homes and damaging multiple vehicles, according to local authorities.

The crash happened in the Murphy Canyon area of San Diego on May 22, and emergency evacuations were quickly ordered for several surrounding streets as the situation unfolded.

"We have jet fuel all over the place." Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy explained during a press conference. He added, "Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now."

Chief Eddy also mentioned that the aircraft made a direct impact with multiple homes in the area. He described a scene filled with wreckage, saying there was "a gigantic debris field" in this tightly packed residential zone.

At this point, it remains unclear if anyone has been injured or killed in the crash or the resulting fires.

Visibility was low due to thick fog at the time of the crash, which may have been a factor. Eddy noted: "You could barely see in front of you."

The aircraft involved has been identified as a Cessna 550. It went down around 3:45am local time, near the Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport, according to a statement released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

"The number of people on board is unknown at this time." the FAA confirmed. "The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NSTB will lead the investigation and provide any updates. This information is preliminary and subject to change."

The Cessna 550 is a small twin-engine business jet that typically accommodates six to eight people on board.

The San Diego Police Department has issued a public safety alert on Twitter urging everyone to steer clear of the impacted area while emergency crews continue working the scene.

The location of where the plane crashed in San Diego Mehmet Yaren Bozgun/Anadolu via Getty Images

The department tweeted: "Plane crash in Tierrasanta: Evacs still in place for Salmon, Sample & Sculpin St. If you smell jet fuel or find debris, call 619-531-2000. SB Santo Rd closed at Aero Dr. Evac site: Miller Elementary, 4343 Shields St."

Meanwhile, CBS News spoke with a local resident who had to evacuate. His name wasn't shared publicly, but he gave insight into the panic of the moment.

Describing how he reacted when he realized he needed to get his loved ones to safety, he said: "As soon as I saw a police officer and he told me about like there's some big incident going on, instantly my mind went to - 'I have to get my family out of here'."

"Whatever's going on, like my car, her car, everything that's inside the house - that's irrelevant just make sure everybody's safe."