Around 300 firefighting personnel were deployed to combat a wildfire that ignited in a dry brushy area of Lake Elsinore on Friday, temporarily prompting evacuation orders.
The blaze, dubbed the Vista fire, was reported at 4:20 p.m. near El Toro Road, north of the Riverside County city, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Evacuation orders and warnings were issued in residential areas adjacent to the fire around 5:30 p.m. Those were all lifted three hours later as firefighters gained the upper hand on the blaze, which was mapped at 141 acres with 25% containment at 9 p.m.
One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, officials said.
Local resident Sharon Anderson told OnScene.TV that police had come to her street on Thursday afternoon to warn residents to be ready to evacuate.
“We were a little concerned, but it’s not the first time this has happened,” she said, noting that wildfires are common in the area and that she is ready to relocate with her belongings and pets to a friend’s house if needed. Nearby, a man could be seen using a garden hose to spray water on the trees surrounding his home as a defensive measure should the flames approach.
Riverside County fire crews are also responded to the nearby Palomar fire, which ignited shortly after 1 p.m. near Palomar Street in the city of Wildomar, according to Cal Fire. That 11-acre blaze was 90% contained by 6 p.m.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
