Crime & Safety
Shore Fire: Evacuation Orders Downgraded In Multiple Zones As Crews Make Progress
Only one mandatory evacuation order remained Wednesday evening for scattered properties along the perimeter of the brusher.
EL CASCO, CA — With ongoing progress establishing containment lines around a nearly 3,100-acre wildfire in the Badlands southwest of Calimesa, most evacuation orders were downgraded Wednesday to warnings, while some of the prior warnings were cancelled altogether.
"Residents returning to the area should remain vigilant, be prepared to leave if conditions change and continue to monitor incident reports," according to a Riverside County Fire Department statement Wednesday.
The agency said evacuation orders that had been declared for two locations in the vicinity of the brush fire were reduced to warnings, leaving only one mandatory evacuation order for scattered properties along the perimeter of the brusher. Some of the previous warnings were lifted entirely, officials said.
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A map identifying the impacted areas was available at protect.genasys.com/zones/US-CA-XRI-RVC-0231-B.
The changes Wednesday follow the complete reopening Tuesday of the westbound Moreno Valley (60) Freeway between Beaumont and Moreno Valley, after a partial shutdown of a three-mile stretch Monday night at the height of the brusher.
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The non-injury fire was reported at 3:23 p.m. Monday in a sparsely populated area near Lake Shore Drive and San Timoteo Canyon Road.
Multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Hemet Fire Department, Palm Springs Fire Department, Cal Fire-San Bernardino County and other agencies were sent to the location, which is on the north side of the rugged expanse between Interstate 10 to the north and the 60 freeway to the south.
Flames were moving at a moderate to rapid rate northward amid gusty afternoon winds, which died off around nightfall Monday, enabling crews to begin encircling the brusher, officials said.
The terrain is difficult to negotiate on foot.
An evacuation center was established for people and pets at Valley View High School, 13135 Nason St., Moreno Valley. Large animal intakes were also available at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, 581 S. Grand Ave.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
