#SerenasFire is now 40 acres. Photos courtesy of CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department. pic.twitter.com/lQN6z5eRbP
— CAL FIRE Riverside (@CALFIRERRU) May 28, 2017
Fifty-five people were evacuated from an apartment building in Mecca Sunday, as a brushfire broke out and threatened to burn an office and residential structures.
Dubbed the Serenas Fire, the blaze was reported at 2:12 p.m. near the intersection of Avenue 64 and Las Serenas Street, said April Newman of the Riverside County Fire Department.
As of 5:45 p.m. the fire charred 40 acres in heavy brush and was 50 percent contained, Newman reported.
“The forward rate of spread has been stopped. The structure threat has been mitigated and Paseo De Los Heroes Apartments are being repopulated,” according to Newman’s report.
Sheriff’s deputies have been assisting with the evacuation and re-entry of the affected apartments.
By 8:45 p.m., officials reported the fire was fully contained and 48 acres total had burned. A total of 72 firefighters battled the blaze.
No injuries or damage to structures were reported.
–City News Service
Updated May 28, 2017 at 9:28 p.m.