Evacuation warnings have been ordered for a portion of Riverside County as a brush fire burns in northern San Diego County.
Per Cal Fire, the Henderson Fire was first reported around 5:45 p.m. Saturday near Henderson and Pala Mission roads in the small community of Pala, which is located within the Pala Indian Reservation in northern San Diego County.
As of late Saturday morning, the blaze had scorched 300 acres.
Evacuation orders are in place for areas immediately surrounding the Pala community, which is just south of the San Diego-Riverside County line and is home to the Pala Band of Mission Indians. As the fire spreads, more evacuation orders and warnings are being issued, including for a portion of southwest Riverside County.
The areas in Riverside County under evacuation warnings (which indicate a potential threat to life and/or property) include several neighborhoods south of Temecula:
- Oak Haven Estates
- Parts of the Pechanga Reservation
- Rural portions of the Agua Tibia Wilderness
Additionally, several local road closures are in place as hundreds of firefighters work to contain the brush fire. Smoke advisories have been issued by the North San Diego County Fire Protection District and the South Coast Air Quality Monitoring District.
According to South Coast AQMD officials, winds are transporting smoke northward towards western Riverside County communities, and the Air Quality Index indicates a moderate presence of pollutants in the area.
The Riverside County Emergency Management Department has set up an evacuation center at Temecula Valley High School, located at 31555 Rancho Vista Road in Temecula.
Cal Fire officials provided an update on the fire just before 10:30 a.m., saying that crews continued to battle the flames from the ground and above.
“Firefighters were able to make progress last night as fire behavior was minimal,” the status summary said. “A substantial number of extra firefighters and equipment have been requested for today, as there will be work to fully contain the fire, [which] is burning in steep and rugged terrain near Pala Reservation.”
What started the Henderson Fire is not known.