Fast-growing wildfire in windy Southern California triggers evacuations
Fast-Growing Wildfire Prompts Evacuations in Southern California
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A fast-growing wildfire erupted on Friday in windy Southern California, leading to multiple evacuation orders and warnings.
Dubbed the Springs Fire, the blaze ignited around 11 a.m. near Moreno Valley in Riverside County. By 2:30 p.m., it had rapidly expanded to 2.34 square miles (6.06 square kilometers). The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and authorities have not disclosed the number of households affected by evacuation orders or warnings.
Maggie Cline De La Rosa, a public information officer for Cal Fire Riverside, emphasized the challenging conditions, stating, “It’s windy out there.”
According to a Cal Fire map, the fire is burning in a recreational area near Moreno Valley, a city with a population of approximately 200,000 residents. Moreno Valley is located 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for San Bernardino and Riverside County valleys, forecasting gusts of up to 50 mph (80 kph) through Saturday afternoon.
“Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result,” the advisory cautioned.
