Firefighters battle blaze east of Temecula

By: MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS - Staff Writer | Sunday, October 21, 2007 11:44 PM PDT ∞

AGUANGA ---- While several fires burned out of control throughout Southern California, firefighters attacking a blaze in a rural area less than 15 miles east of Temecula were confident they would be able to get the brush fire under control sometime Sunday night.

The fire, which started shortly before 4 p.m. near Roca Vista Road and Highway 371, had burned an estimated 250 acres by 8:30 p.m. and was about 40 percent surrounded, said information officer Matt DiIullo of the Riverside County Fire Department. About 200 firefighers from 30 engines responded to the scene, according to information from the Fire Department.

Winds that had blown ferociously Sunday afternoon had subsided after nightfall, greatly slowing the fire's progress, Herrera said.

"The wind has died down drastically, so it's improving our operations," Fire Department Capt. Fernando Herrera said. "We're hoping we can surround the fire in the next few hours. There's no heavy fire front. ... For now, the fire has laid down substantially, so that has allowed us to get the upperhand with the wind diminishing and not having the high flames that we had."

Earlier in the day, the fire was propelled southwesterly by gusts estimated at 40 mph, winds that also prevented air support, according to the Fire Department.

The blaze spread quickly to 50 acres as it burned south along Highway 371, forcing officials to evacuate the Jojoba RV Resort and shut down the highway between Wilson Valley Road and Highway 79, fire officials said.

Later in the afternoon when winds abated, the fire department was able to get planes off the ground to drop retardant, officials said.

One mobile home was destroyed and its occupants assisted in finding temporary quarters by the Red Cross, Herrera said. One civilian was treated by an ambulance crew for smoke inhalation, officials said.

An evacuation center was opened at 6:30 p.m. at the Temecula Community Center at Rancho Vista and Margarita roads, but as of 7:30 p.m., Herrera said no additional evacuations had been ordered and DiIullo said later the mandatory evacuation was lifted.

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

Friend wrote on Oct 22, 2007 6:21 PM:What good does it do for us to invest millions of tax dollars in high tech firefighting airplanes and helicopter, then find out they can't fly because of high winds and smoke? Every wildfire comes with high winds and lots of smoke, so why not invest our money in men and trucks who can get in and fight the fires day and night?

MORE INFO FOR TEMECULA PLEASE wrote on Oct 22, 2007 7:47 PM:WHERE IS THE NEWS COVERAGE FOR THIS AREA, WE ARE CONSTANTLY BEING OVERLOOKED DURING CRISIS LIKE THESE FIRES. WHEN IS TEMECULA GOING TO GET A REAL TV STATION WITH NEWS? L.A. DOESN'T MENTION OUR AREA AND THE KUSI STATION IS DOWN-

Modern wrote on Oct 22, 2007 9:13 PM:I've hear it on the news. It just got lost in the shuffle because there are 15 fires going on.

Modern wrote on Oct 22, 2007 9:13 PM:It just go lost in the shuffle because there are 15 fires going on at the same time.

jmm wrote on Oct 22, 2007 9:18 PM:Temecula-Murrieta is big enough for our own news station. Sd - La don't cover what we have going on. regards mike matheny

jmm wrote on Oct 22, 2007 9:20 PM:Bring in our own TV-NEWS teams. Area has enough going on to support.

MalibuB4theWorld wrote on Oct 22, 2007 9:20 PM:Media people are from LA, hence they know nothing more than the route to work and back...mostly. Make them aware by letters to the editor and phone calls. There is life outside of the Malibu/LA area.

anonymous wrote on Oct 22, 2007 9:56 PM:Indeed. Enough people know that Temecula/Murrieta exists. Why don't they have more coverage? A lot happens... the fire may not be as close to Temecula itself as other fires are to other cities, but it's close enough. Also, people like me who aren't in town are worried about our families who are in Temecula, Murrieta, and other cities that don't get more coverage. We are almost left in the dark. I'm glad that at least one site is covering our story...

jennifer wrote on Oct 23, 2007 12:37 PM:I've been watching for any info in the Temecula area because I live in the tinder box named Anza. It's very frustrating not seeing anything on the news, but right now I can see a giant billow of smoke blowing my way. I agree, we need local news coverage, badly.

JBC wrote on Oct 23, 2007 1:58 PM:I heard that there was some evacuations from Pala, we live near Pala. I've searched tv stations and on the internet looking for some questions about the fire in Pala, can't find it. I don't know who to call, how can we sleep tonight knowing that fire is nearby. We need a tv station with current news.

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