Environment

Riverside County Brush Fires: Temecula Fire Growing, Roads Closed

by Tina Kells | July 2, 2009 at 03:25 pm

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A brush fire that broke out at 2:34pm in Temecula, California on July 2, 2009 quickly raged to engulf 100 acres of land. The Riverside County brush fires are hard to fight with winds of 10-15 miles per hour pushing them across dry land at a startling pace.

220 firefighters are on the scene battling the blaze equipped with 30 fire trucks, four air tankers and 2 helicopters. Roads in the area are closed until further notice as the fire is at a high risk of spreading further. The fires are burning in steep terrain that is full of dry brush and other easily ignited foliage.

Firefighters and support from five California regions have been called in to contain the flames. Officers and firefighters from Cal Fire/Riverside County, Cal Fire/San Diego, Pechanga Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service/Cleveland, and the California Highway Patrol are fighting to stop the fires from spreading.

Evacuation notice was served around 4 pm and people and businesses were evacuated shortly after.

A wildland fire was reported at 2:34 p.m. in the portion of De Luz located in Riverside County (west portion of Temecula). The blaze is located in the vicinity of Rancho California Road and Avenida Del Oro.
The first fire unit to reach the scene said a large area was burning upward in steep, dense terrain. So far, 55 firefighters, seven engines, two bulldozers, one helicopter, and two air tankers with Cal Fire and Riverside County Fire have responded to the incident.

A road closure has been reported for Rancho California Road at Avenida Del Oro.

By about 9 pm, firefighters had surrounded approximately 75% of the fire, which had burned 100 acres. They expected to contain the fire by 8am Friday morning (July 3).

"Throughout the night, we're going to have crews continue to work the perimeter, mopping up any hot spots," [Riverside County fire spokesman Capt. Fernando] Herrera said [on Thursday]. "It's getting dark, and that makes it a little bit harder."

While the flames threatened numerous buildings and at least one home, there had been no reports of any structures burning.