Liberty Fire Day 2: No School, 7 Buildings Burn, 60% Containment

UPDATE 1 P.M. — Murrieta Fire & Rescue officials report the Liberty Fire is holding at 300 acres with 60 percent containment as of this time. There are still no injuries to report, and the total estimated structures lost remains at seven.

What's more, all evacuations have been lifted in the area related to the fire. However, Edison is still working on restoring power to 50 customers.

ORIGINAL STORY AS FOLLOWS:

MURRIETA, CA — As crews enter the second day of battling the Liberty Fire near Murrieta, they are entering the firefight with the upper-hand containment-wise and wind-wise. As of 8 a.m. Friday, the fire was considered 60 percent contained with 300 acres burned.

While Thursday saw strong gusty winds that fueled the flames, Friday is expected to be significantly less windy. The Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index puts the region in the "yellow" or marginal — but that doesn't mean we're out of the woods yet.

The National Weather Service warns that critical fire weather weather will continue through at least Sunday.

The fast-moving Liberty Fire destroyed one structure and six outbuildings on Thursday, fire officials report. It forced several residents from their homes, some of which remain under a mandatory evacuation order on Friday. As of Friday morning, those living on Los Alamos between Ruth Ellen and Briggs Road remained evacuated, as well as those living on Maclean and Golden Eagle.

Shortly after the blaze broke out around 1:15 p.m., a large smoke plume was visible across the Temecula and Murrieta areas. Schools let students go home early, and later canceled all classes for Friday within both the Murrieta Valley and Temecula Valley unified school districts due to air quality concerns. Menifee Union School District later canceled classes as well. School closures are as follows:

• Murrieta Valley USD schools
• Temecula Valley USD schools
• Menifee Union SD schools
• Riverside County Office of Education Special Education, Career/Technical Education, and Alternative Education program sites located in Murrieta Valley USD, Temecula Valley USD, and Menifee Union SD
• David Long Regional Learning Center in Murrieta
• Head Start locations in Murrieta and Temecula
• Springs Charter Schools – Six sites closed including one in Murrieta; two in Temecula; two in Hemet, and one in Menifee

"Strong northeast winds are expected to continue through at least Friday morning bringing smoke into the southwestern portion of Riverside County," the South Coast Air Quality Management District said. "Air quality may reach Unhealthy levels or higher in areas directly impacted by smoke."

The air quality district said that Lake Elsinore and the Temecula Valley are both located in a direct smoke impact zone.

Meanwhile, as crews work to continue building containment while the winds are less gusty, Los Alamos Road remains closed to traffic. Some 50 customers remain without power, Murrieta officials said.

"Crews worked through the night and will continue to work on restoring power to those impacted," the fire department said.

In nearby Oceanside, firefighters are posed for a tougher fight Friday. The Lilac Fire has burned an estimated 4,100 acres — and there's zero percent containment. Read all about that fire here.

This is a developing story. Refresh for the latest.

SEE ALSO:

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

Murrieta Liberty Fire: Dramatic Photos From Temecula Valley Blaze

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Main image by Joe Fanaselle