$1.3 Million in Losses as Fire Rips Through Temecula Unified Facility

TEMECULA, CA — A fire producing heavy smoke ripped through a Temecula school district's transportation yard Saturday, sending one firefighter to the hospital and causing more than $1 million worth of losses, officials report.

The fire was reported at about 3:20 p.m. on the exterior portion of a building belonging to the Temecula Unified School District, right next to Chaparral High School, Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Jennifer Fuhrman said in a press release.

More than 50 firefighters battled the flames as they swept through the facility. One of them was injured during the incident, but their injuries were described as "non-life threatening," Fuhrman said.

Fire officials said several buses and machinery were destroyed.

"Numerous grounds maintenance vehicles/apparatus for Chaparral High School including a street sweeper and multiple vehicles burned," Fuhrman reported. "A wooden parking cover was also destroyed."

The Riverside County Fire Department said the total damages are estimated to be $1.3 million. An estimated $1.5 million was saved.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

To see more images from the scene, click on the images below, or click here.

(Images courtesy of Joe Fanaselle)