A brush fire that erupted Tuesday in the hills west of Murrieta charred almost 150 acres and threatened rural properties, where evacuation orders were implemented.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 2:50 p.m. in the area of Via Volcano and Tenaja roads, in the unincorporated community of La Cresta, along the boundary of the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine and hand crews from the county, Murrieta Fire & Rescue, Riverside Fire Department, Corona Fire Department, Cal Fire-San Diego County and other agencies were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate through medium to heavy brush.
Four Cal Fire air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters initiated runs on the brusher just after 3 p.m.
Residences are spread throughout the area on large lots, sometimes several acres wide, mostly off of dirt roads. At 3:45 p.m., evacuation orders were declared for properties along Tenaja, between Avenida Caleta to the west and Clinton Keith Road to the east.
An evacuation and reception center was established at Chaparral High School, 27215 Nicolas Road in Temecula. Any evacuees with large animals were encouraged to leave them with county personnel at the Murrieta Equestrian Center, 42646 Juniper St.
Sheriff’s deputies shut down Tenaja west of Via Volcano for public safety.
There was no immediate word on what might have triggered the blaze.