Liberty Fire: Murrieta Blaze At 300 Acres, All Schools Canceled

SEE FRIDAY UPDATE HERE: Liberty Fire Latest: No School, 7 Structures Burn, Containment Grows

MURRIETA, CA — A fast-moving brush fire broke out in the Murrieta area Thursday, destroying structures and prompting the evacuation of several homes before nightfall. The fire was first reported at 1:14 p.m. and prompted Murrieta school officials to let several area students go home early — and subsequently cancel classes at all schools in the Murrieta Valley and Temecula Valley unified school districts for Friday.

Within the first three hours of breaking out, the Liberty Fire was estimated at 300 acres in size and at least two structures had burned. As of the most fire update from officials, the fire remained at an estimated 300 acres as of 9 p.m., with 10 percent containment.

The fire broke out close to homes, in the unincorporated area of Riverside County at the Murrieta city border. It didn't take long to enter Murrieta city limits. The blaze sent a massive smoke plume through the region as it burned out of control. More than 300 firefighters were sent to the scene from 61 engine companies.

"We are receiving a report of a vegetation fire in the area of Los Alamos and Liberty," Murrieta police said on Facebook at 1:20 p.m. "Please avoid the area to allow emergency personnel access to the area."

Los Alamos Road was closed Between Ruth Ellen and Crawford Canyon due to the fire, police said. Evacuations were issued for the several streets, but at 8 p.m. the only ones that remained in place were:

• Residents bordering Los Alamos Road between Ruth Ellen & Briggs Road,
• Maclean & Golden Eagle

A "care and reception center" remains open at Murrieta Mesa High School, 24801 Monroe Street. Animals can be taken to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus at 581 S. Grand Avenue.

The fire's location is near several homes and schools. As such, the Riverside County Fire Department issued the evacuation orders and Murrieta Valley Unified School District let students go home early from Monte Vista Elementary, Rail Ranch Elementary, Lisa J Mails, Dorothy McElhainey and Vista Murrieta High School.

No School Friday - In Temecula or Murrieta

Murrieta Valley Unified School District announced Thursday evening that no classes would be held at all on Friday. Temecula Valley Unified followed suit shortly thereafter.

"ALL TVUSD Schools will be CLOSED Tomorrow, Friday December 8 due to fires and unpredictable air quality concerns," TVUSD said on Facebook at 9:45 p.m.

MVUSD issued the following announcement on their website:

After consultation with Murrieta Fire and Rescue regarding the Liberty Fire on Los Alamos, as a precautionary measure MVUSD will close all 20 schools tomorrow. In addition, all after school events and activities scheduled for tomorrow will be cancelled.

South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a smoke advisory saying northeast winds are expected to continue through at least tomorrow morning bringing smoke into the southwestern portion of Riverside County where air quality may reach unhealthy levels or higher in areas directly impacted by smoke.

The Liberty Fire has reached 300 acres with ten percent containment. The Lilac fire has reached 2,500 acreswith zero containment and smoke from that fire will negatively impact the air quality in Murrieta.

Murrieta Mesa High School has been designated as a Red Cross evacuation center and 25 evacuees are on location.

In addition, with the number of mandatory and voluntary evacuations in place and road closures in the area of the fire, we anticipate students, staff and teachers would have difficulty getting to schools tomorrow.

It is difficult for first responder professionals to predict fire and air quality. Our top priority is the safety of students and staff. We will continue to monitor the fires and work collaboratively with Murrieta Fire & Rescue to keep you informed.

A Patch reporter on scene witnessed a structure fully involved in flames, though it's not clear if that was a home or outbuilding.

We also spotted flames taking over a hill in one small part of town, and captured several images which we posted in a photo gallery here.

The Google Map below shows the location where the Liberty Fire first broke out.

SEE ALSO: Murrieta Under Rare Purple Warning: 75 MPH Winds Forecast Nearby

SEE ALSO: Motorists Witness Wildfires Near LA Freeway

Welp. Murrieta is officially on fire. #MurrietaFire pic.twitter.com/SzU73hDAwL
— Grayson Gregory (@Grayson_Gregory) December 7, 2017

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Main image by Mark Ritter