• Font Size    

Fire Watch Coverage

60 Freeway Brush Fire
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Brush Fire Burns Near Temecula In Riverside County

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +   
Jul 2, 2009 5:26 pm US/Pacific

Brush Fire Burns Near Temecula In Riverside County

TEMECULA, Calif. (AP) ― Firefighters are battling a fire that has burned about 100 acres of dense brush near Temecula and forced nearby businesses to evacuate.

Riverside County Fire department spokeswoman Jody Hagemann says the fire started about 2:30 p.m. Thursday. She says it is being fanned by about 15 mph winds.

The blaze began on the west side of the Temecula Valley (15) Freeway, and smoke was visible from the highway. By 4 p.m., smoke covered all of French Valley and ash was visible in the air.

Several businesses west of Temecula have been evacuated. All businesses along Business Center Drive were evacuated, but no structures had been affected as of 5 p.m.

According to Cal Fire, 220 firefighters were on the scene, aided by four air tankers and two helicopter crews, as well as an air-attack plane crew helping to direct firefighting efforts.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.