Tornado Fire Scorches 75 Acres

TEMECULA, CA —The Tornado Fire that scorched 75 acres after erupting Friday afternoon was 75 percent contained as of Saturday morning, officials said. The fire erupted around 2:48 p.m. on Via Santa Rosa, sending visible smoke throughout the Southwest Riverside region.

The fire was one of two wildland blazes to erupt Friday. The Woodchuck Fire erupted in the evening and scorched about 26 acres. As of Saturday morning, that fire was 90 percent contained, officials said.

-------------

PREVIOUS: FRIDAY, MAY 4, 6:23 p.m.

A brush fire that broke out Friday in an orchard west of Temecula had scorched 60 acres by late afternoon but was not posing an immediate threat to homes.

The non-injury blaze was reported about 2:50 p.m. in the 28000 block of Via Santa Rosa, near Via Vaquero, in the unincorporated community of De Luz, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

An agency spokeswoman said 14 engine crews and six hand crews, numbering about 115 personnel, were sent to the location.

With the help of six air tankers dispatched from the Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base and other pads, firefighters were working to encircle the brusher, which was expanding at a slow rate in hilly terrain, according to the fire department.

No homes or other structures were under threat, and according to meteorological reports, winds in the area were light and variable.

There was no word on how the blaze started, and as of 5 p.m., the brusher was zero percent contained.

------------

PREVIOUS: FRIDAY, MAY 4, 5:05 p.m.

A brush fire broke out Friday in an orchard west of Temecula, scorching 45 acres in just over an hour, firefighters said.

The non-injury blaze was reported about 2:50 p.m. in the 28000 block of Via Santa Rosa, near Via Vaquero, in the unincorporated area of De Luz, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

An agency spokeswoman said 10 engine crews and two hand crews, numbering about 65 personnel, were sent to the location and immediately requested air support.

Four air tankers were dispatched from the Hemet-Ryan Air Attack Base.

No homes or other structures were immediately threatened, and winds in the area were reportedly light and variable.

There was no word on how the fire started.

As of 4 p.m., firefighters said the brush fire was zero percent contained.

--------------

PREVIOUS: FRIDAY, MAY 4, 4:55 p.m.

The Tornado Fire has burned roughly 60 acres in the De Luz area, of unincorporated Temecula, Calfire has reported. There was no containment as of 5 p.m. Friday.

No evacuations have been ordered, and no one has been reported injured from the blaze, Calfire spokesperson Tawny Cabral told Patch.

As many as six aircraft are responding to the scene on the 28000 block of Via Santa Rosa. This aggressive attack will make drops to smother the blaze from further spread of this fast-moving fire.

Firefighters initially responded to the scene in the De Luz neighborhood on Friday afternoon at 2:45 p.m. after reports of flames in a nearby orchard, according to Cabral.

By 3:30 p.m. the column of smoke was visible from south Temecula, and surrounding areas.

A heavy attack on the fire began, with nearly 100 firefighters and personnel battling the blaze, with multiple engine companies. air tankers,fire crews, water tenders and dozers on scene.

Murrieta Fire has stated they are en route to assist with the blaze. CAL FIRE/Riverside, CAL FIRE/San Diego, Pechanga FD, Riverside County Fire Department, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, are also on scene.

"The fire was burning with a moderate rate of spread," Cabral said.

No evacuations have been ordered, and no injuries were known as of this report.

This is a developing story. Please refresh this page for the latest information.

Webcam photo, Calfire

Ashley Ludwig, Photo, Patch Staff

Photo from Aftershock Brewery, Jeremiah Arapeles

--City News Service contributed to this report