Riverside County fire crews were battling the Volcano Fire near Murrieta on Tuesday afternoon after it was reported at 2:50 p.m. in the area of Via Volcano and Tenaja roads. The brush fire burned through medium to heavy brush and prompted evacuation orders and warnings as it spread west of Via Volcano.
By 4:25 p.m., CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department said the fire had charred 125 acres and was burning at a moderate rate of spread. That update put eight evacuation-order zones and seven evacuation-warning zones into effect, giving residents the clearest map yet of who had to move and who had to be ready.
Via Volcano and Tenaja roads
Multiple air and ground resources were sent to the location after the report came in. Sheriff's deputies also shut down Tenaja west of Via Volcano for public safety, narrowing access around the fire area as crews worked the perimeter and tried to keep the blaze from pushing farther into the surrounding brush.
The evacuation orders covered RVC-2244, RVC-2243, RVC-2197, RVC-2145, RVC-2146, RVC-2147, RVC-2245 and RVC-2198-B. Evacuation warnings were issued for RVC-2077, RVC-2076, RVC-2143-A, RVC-2292, RVC-2246, RVC-2198-A and RVC-2144, which meant residents in those zones had to stay ready to leave if conditions worsened.
The fire remained a developing incident, and the cause had not been identified in the available update. With the blaze still active at moderate spread and the evacuation footprint already broad, the most immediate issue for residents in the zone was whether to stay packed, stay informed and be ready to leave without delay.
