Volcano Fire: Evacuations remain in place for brush fire near Murrieta
MURRIETA, Calif. (CNS) -- A brush fire that erupted in the hills west of Murrieta was holding at 138 acres Wednesday, as crews made steady progress encircling it, while precautionary evacuation orders remained in place.
The blaze was reported at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Via Volcano and Tenaja roads, in the unincorporated community of La Cresta, along the boundary of the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Murrieta Fire & Rescue, Riverside Fire Department, Corona Fire Department, Cal Fire-San Diego County and other agencies were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate through medium to heavy brush.
At the height of the brusher, four Cal Fire air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters were making runs on it. However, by nightfall Tuesday, all of the fixed-wing aircraft had cleared the location.
They did not return Wednesday morning, but several choppers continued to make targeted drops in support of ground personnel.
The blaze was almost 50% contained as of 8 a.m. Wednesday, according to the fire department.
There were no reports of any type of structural damage.
Two firefighters fell ill from possible heat exhaustion and dehydration Wednesday morning. They were expected to be taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar for treatment.
Residences are spread throughout the area on large lots, sometimes several acres wide, mostly off of dirt roads. Evacuation orders were declared for properties along Tenaja, between Avenida Caleta to the west and Clinton Keith Road to the east.
An evacuation and reception center was established at Chaparral High School, 27215 Nicolas Road in Temecula. Evacuees with large animals were encouraged to leave them with county personnel at the Murrieta Equestrian Center, 42646 Juniper St.
Sheriff's deputies shut down Tenaja west of Via Volcano for public safety.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
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