Mecca Elementary School was voluntarily evacuated Wednesday due to smoke in the area as firefighters battled a vegetation fire of at least 15 acres that caused a power outage affecting about 200 structures.
Fire crews responded around 9:10 a.m. Wednesday near Lincoln Street and 64th Avenue to a report of a vegetation fire, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
“Firefighters are currently on scene of a vegetation fire burning thick in vegetation,” fire officials said in a statement at 9:53 a.m. “The fire is currently 3 acres and burning with a moderate rate of speed.”
The fire grew to six acres shortly after 10 a.m. and to 15 acres with no containment by 11:20 a.m., according to fire officials.
Power lines were de-energized in the area, and the Riverside County Emergency Management Department was working to establish a cooling center for residents affected by the outage.
No evacuation orders were issued, though the school, located a little less than a mile from the fire, had students leave anyway due to the smoke.