A 350-acre wildfire burning near the border of San Diego and Riverside counties is about 60 percent contained, authorities said Tuesday morning.
While Temecula residents can smell the smoke Tuesday morning, the path of the Pala Fire is moving in a northeasterly direction but not posing any immediate threat to home.
Evacuation orders affecting the residents of nearly 40 homes were lifted Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The blaze started about 10:35 a.m. Monday near the intersection of Pala Temecula and Moro roads, according to Cal Fire Capt. Mike Mohler.
No injuries have been reported and no homes destroyed, but about 35 homes near Rancho Heights and Magee roads were threatened and residents told to evacuate.
Red Cross officials set up an evacuation center at the Jim Banks Sports Complex at 12194 Pala Mission Road.
As of Monday night, about $50,000 had been spent battling the blaze, authorities said.
Authorities said the blaze may have been sparked by a car crash.
The California Highway Patrol reported on its website that a Toyota Camry hit a pole and caught fire about 10:30 a.m. Monday near the intersection of Pala Temecula and Moro roads.
Original story posted Monday : 3:15 p.m.
The Pala Fire has now topped 300 acres and continues to move toward the Riverside County line.
Authorities have now confirmed the fire started when a car plowed into a fire hydrant and knocked down power lines. The crash caused nearby brush to catch fire and the fire quickly spread.
Update: 1:35 p.m.
The Pala fire has jumped to 200 acres and is moving toward Pala Temecula Road and Rancho Heights. Voluntary evacuation orders have been issued to the area around Rancho Heights and Magee Road, according to the San Diego County Fire Department.
The flames and smoke are so intense they can be seen from Great Oak High School and the area around Pechanga.
Original Story
Firefighters are battling a growing brush fire that is roaring toward the Riverside County border.
Firefighters are battling a growing brush fire that is roaring toward the Riverside County border. (Kerri S. Mabee/SWRNN)
Calfire reported the fire started in San Diego County at Pala Temecula Road and Morro Road near 11 a.m. Fire officials have not said what started the fire, although the California Highway Patrol traffic website is reporting the fire started when a car slammed into a fire hydrant.
The CHP website shows a white Toyota Camry hit a fire hydrant and knocked down a power pole at 10:29 a.m. CHP officials immediately shut down Pala Road as the power lines were across the water from the hydrant.
At 10:49 a.m., the CHP reported the hillside was on fire and firefighters were called out to battle the flames.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Area fire coverage: “Update: Homes evacuated as Keller Fire grows, two structures damaged”
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I truly believe the United States, and everyone who lives, and works here would be far better off today if we had done nothing in response to 9/11 (other than doing absolutely whatever it takes to terminate the lives of every terrorist suspected of having anything whatsoever to do with it). All the billions of dollars spent on “Security” has eroded our right to privacy, and driven up prices on damned near everything. No way in hell would the damages caused by all their bombings combined come anywhere’s near the price tag we’ve already paid to date for the so called “Security” of our nation. Not to even mention the fact that their efforts have succeeded in causing the characteristic over reaction they hoped for in the majority of American citizens. All this “panic law making” has done is hurt our own citizenship. That’s my perspective on the whole thing!