Firefighters aim for full containment of Temecula fire
Sunday, September 20, 2009
A fire crew member tries to cut a line near Highway 79 east of Temecula. (photo by Jose Arballo Jr./SWRNN)
TEMECULA - Firefighters hoped for full containment Sunday night on a wildfire that scorched more than 300 acres, burned a dozen structures and forced evacuations east of Temecula, a Cal Fire communications captain said.
Knocking down the “Vail Fire” before hotter, gustier winds arrive on Monday is a top priority Sunday, authorities said. The blaze was first reported Saturday afternoon near state Route 79 and Sage Road, in the brush-covered hills about midway between Temecula and Aguanga, a CHP dispatcher said Sunday.
Authorities have clamped down on access to burned and unburned areas east of Vail Lake, according to the CHP. The 79 is closed on the west at Vail Lake Road and on the east at Juni Hills Road, and “no one gets by except emergency vehicles,” a CHP dispatcher said.
“The fire is technically down, so much debris that hasn’t burned for a while, so now it’s ember watch and clean up,” the dispatcher said, reading from an incident log. “Expecting winds Monday and Tuesday and spot fires.”
By 8 p.m. Saturday, the blaze had grown to 348 acres, said Cal Fire Riverside County Capt. Fernando Herrera.
“We’ve stopped the forward spread of the fire,” Herrera said, who added that the blaze was expected to be fully contained by 8 a.m., “and fully controlled by 8 p.m. tomorrow evening.”
“Twelve structures were burned, but we don’t know whether they were residences or outbuildings or what yet,” he said.
Some residences along Route 79 between Anza Road and Sage Road were evacuated, affecting about 50 to 100 people, but about 200 campers and employees at a resort at Vail Lake were told to stay put.
“One civilian was injured with what resulted in smoke inhalation,” Herrera said. Evacuation centers were opened at Temecula Community Recreation Center at 30875 Rancho Vista Road in Temecula, and at Rancho California RV Resort in Aguanga, said Herrera.
Power was knocked out along Route 79 as “several power poles burned and were damaged,” Herrera said.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze, along with at least five aircraft, which included two tanker planes, two helicopters and an “air attack” plane to guide water and retardant drops, according to Cal Fire. Dry, hot and windy Santa Ana conditions are forecast to move into the area early next week, according to the National Weather Service.
There were a “few hundred” campers at Vail Lake Village & RV Resort near the fire, said resort manager Denise Munoz.
Read more: Vail Fire on SWRNN|Riverside County Fire Department
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- Honest to God
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Comment by: so cal resident Posted: September 20, 2009, 2:51 pm
THREE CHEERS FOR THE BEST FIREFIGHTERS IN THE WORLD!
Thanks for making and keeping our homes and families safe…
Our Warmest Aloha
Anza
Comment by: Temecula Minister Posted: September 20, 2009, 5:59 pm
My hat is off to all of the fire-fighting heroes! Thank you for all that you do. God bless!