Menifee Brush Fire Burns 43 Acres, 90% Containment Reached

MENIFEE, CA — A Tuesday afternoon brush fire in Menifee that scorched almost 50 acres west of Interstate 215 and prompted multiple evacuations was stopped before damaging any homes or property, according to the Cal Fire/ Riverside County Fire Department.

The non-injury blaze was reported at 12:55 p.m. in the area of Garbani and Haun roads. A combination of ground and air resources, including multiple engine and truck crews from the county and surrounding agencies, encountered the wildfire burning toward properties in the 20700 block of Garbani, pushed by afternoon winds.

Firefighters built a "defensive perimeter" to protect the Menifee homes that were in jeopardy. Two Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter made runs to douse the brusher further and halt it in its tracks.

All evacuation orders were lifted by 7:30 p.m., allowing residents back to their homes within the area west of Haun, north of Wickerd Road, south of Craig Avenue, and east of Murrieta Road, according to the fire department.

The fire's forward rate of spread was stopped shortly before 3 p.m. All aircraft had cleared the scene at 3:15 p.m., and the fire was declared 5% contained.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.