Crews make progress on brush fires burning in Moreno Valley, Acton

Last updated: Monday, April 6, 2026 6:34AM GMT
ABC7 Eyewitness News

Two brush fires broke out as Santa Ana winds picked up across Southern California on Friday.

The Springs Fire was reported around 11 a.m. on Gilman Springs Road in Moreno Valley, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department. As the fire grew, it threatened homes in the Moreno Valley Ranch neighborhood.

Meanwhile, in northern Los Angeles County, crews were battling another, smaller brush fire in the Acton area, dubbed the Crown Fire.

Both fires triggered evacuation orders and warnings, all of which were lifted by Saturday evening, when both fires reached 95% containment.

KABC logo
Apr 04, 2026, 1:44 AM GMT

Evacuation orders downgraded for Crown Fire area, warning remains in effect for some

All evacuation orders have been downgraded for areas near the Crown Fire burning in north Los Angeles County, but an evacuation warning remains in place for some.

Zone LAC-E087 was downgraded to an evacuation warning from an evacuation order. Evacuation warnings were lifted for zones AGD-AIRPORT-A, AGD-BRIGGS-A, AGD-ROCKS-A, LAC-E038, LAC-E040, LAC-E086 and LAC-E089.

The 345-acre Crown Fire in Acton is now 25% contained, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Forward progress was stopped around 4 p.m.

See further details and a map of the evacuation zones here.

Rob McMillan Image
Apr 04, 2026, 1:49 AM GMT

Flames creep dangerously close to homes in Moreno Valley Ranch neighborhood

The Springs Fire burning in Riverside County inched dangerously close to homes in the Moreno Valley Ranch neighborhood on Friday evening.

The Springs Fire burning in Riverside County, east of Moreno Valley and near Lake Perris, inched dangerously close to homes in the Moreno Valley Ranch neighborhood on Friday evening.

The over 4,000-acre brush fire first broke out around 11 a.m. and quickly spread due to strong Santa Ana winds.

An Eyewitness News crew watched as the flames crested the ridge in the hillside above the homes on Championship Drive. It appeared that most of the flames were at least 200 yards away from the homes around 5 p.m. Fortunately, the Santa Ana winds were beginning to die down as crews continued to make water and retardant drops on the brush fire.

Mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for thousands of homes, mainly around Lake Perris and the Rancho del Sol Golf Club.

"We always knew that if this area was to catch fire, it would be devastating, because just like the fires in the Palisades and everything else, this is exactly the same thing that we have here. This has been waiting to go off. Nobody wants to take care of it, so we're not going to wait around," said Moreno Valley resident Ray Moorehead.

The Kaiser Permanente Moreno Valley Medical Center is among the thousands of structures in the evacuation warning zones. Kaiser Permanente released a statement, saying it will remain open but is keeping "direct contact with Riverside County emergency services as the situation evolves."

"We have strong emergency response contingency plans in place to ensure our members continue receiving the highquality care they deserve," the statement read, in part. "Some nonurgent appointments at the Moreno Valley Medical Center campus, including the Iris Medical Office Building, may need to be rescheduled, and we will contact members directly if their appointments are affected."

At last check, the Springs Fire was 4,176 acres and 5% contained, according to CAL FIRE.

KABC logo
Apr 04, 2026, 12:22 AM GMT

Forward progress stopped for Crown Fire in Acton area, officials say

Forward progress has been stopped for the Crown Fire burning in the Acton area, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

In a recent update, incident command said the fire has reached approximately 330 acres and remains at 25% containment with no rate of spread.

Still, evacuation warnings and orders remain in place for the surrounding community.

Leo Stallworth Image
Apr 03, 2026, 11:38 PM GMT

280-acre Crown Fire burning in Acton area now 25% contained, LA County Fire Department says

The Crown Fire burning in northern Los Angeles County in the Acton area has reached 25% containment, according to the L.A. County Fire Department.

The Crown Fire burning in northern Los Angeles County in the Acton area has reached 25% containment, according to officials with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Still, evacuation orders and warnings remain in place for the surrounding communities. Officials say approximately 1,000 structures are within the evacuation zone.

"We have our aerial and our ground firefighter personnel that's working really hard to suppress this fire and get it contained, and that's how we got to that 25%," said Pauline McGee with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. "The firefighters live for these moments. They train all year round to make sure that we keep our communities safe and our homes safe as well."

Firefighters have been able to make progress as the Santa Ana winds slow down. Upwards of 200 firefighters are working to extinguish the blaze.

"It is at 280 acres... the winds have slowed down, and again, those firefighters are working really hard to make sure we contain that fire," McGee said.