SAN JACINTOÂ – A brush fire that erupted today just north of San Jacinto swept over hillsides, scorching roughly 328 acres and threatening homes and agricultural operations and prompting evacuations.
The non-injury blaze was 20% contained, the Riverside County Fire Department announced at 7:50 p.m.
The fire was reported just after 2 p.m. in the Ramona Expressway and North Warren Road area, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location and encountered flames burning along barren hillsides, propelled by southwesterly winds.
Several Cal Fire air tankers and water-dropping helicopters from the nearby Hemet-Ryan Airport made runs on the fire through the afternoon. As the flames moved west, they approached a residential area abutted by dairy farms, leading fire personnel to implement mandatory evacuations in the neighborhood bounded by Cottonwood Avenue to the south, Upperline Avenue to the north, Beech Street to the west and Warren Road to the east.
At 5:45 p.m., flames were within 100 feet of houses on Upperline Avenue and Cal Fire air tankers were summoned to drop retardant and strengthen defensive lines, according to reports from the scene. An evacuation warning was issued to residents and agricultural operators within the area bounded by Cottonwood to the south, Esplanade Avenue to the north, Beech Street to the west and Warren Road to the east.
Those evacuation orders were lifted at 8:30 p.m., and residents were permitted to return to their homes, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Warren Road has reopened between the Ramona Expressway and Esplanade Avenue, according to the department.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.
SAN JACINTOÂ – A brush fire that erupted today just north of San
Jacinto swept over hillsides, scorching roughly 150 acres and threatening homes
and agricultural operations, prompting evacuations.
The non-injury blaze was reported just after 2 p.m. in the area of the
Ramona Expressway and North Warren Road, according to the Riverside County
Fire Department.
Multiple engine and hand crews were sent to the location and
encountered flames burning along barren hillsides, propelled by southwesterly
winds.
Several Cal Fire air tankers and water-dropping helicopters from
nearby Hemet-Ryan Airport made runs on the brusher through the afternoon.
As the flames moved west, they approached a residential area abutted
by dairy farms, leading fire personnel to implement mandatory evacuations in
the neighborhood bounded by Cottonwood Avenue to the south, Upperline Avenue to
the north, Beech Street to the west and Warren Road to the east.
At 5:45 p.m., flames were within 100 feet of houses on Upperline, and
Cal Fire air tankers were summoned to drop retardant and strengthen defensive
lines, according to reports from the scene.
An evacuation warning was issued to residents and agricultural
operators within the area bounded by Cottonwood to the south, Esplanade Avenue
to the north, Beech to the west and Warren to the east.
An evacuation center was opened at Tahquitz High School, 4425 Titan
Trail in Hemet.
Warren was closed between the Expressway and Esplanade, with all north-
and southbound traffic being diverted to the east, for public safety.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.
