A house fire that broke out Wednesday west of Menifee destroyed the residence and expanded into surrounding vegetation, injuring two people and burning over an acre before it was stopped.
The blaze was reported at 4:10 p.m. Wednesday at 23670 Cassandra Drive, near Quail Place, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said multiple engine crews from the county and Murrieta Fire & Rescue were sent to the location and encountered flames raging in one house, where electrical lines had collapsed.
The fire extended into surrounding brush and may have damaged an outbuilding.
Occupants of several homes reportedly evacuated voluntarily. Two people suffered smoke inhalation injuries and were treated at the scene by paramedics. They were expected to be transported to a regional trauma center for further evaluation.
The vegetation fire’s forward rate of spread was stopped at 5:10 p.m., and the house blaze was contained a minute or two later.
A Cal Fire water-dropping helicopter was initially summoned, but a battalion chief canceled the aircraft due to concerns about drops potentially causing significant damage to the fragile structures at the location.
Sheriff’s deputies shut down Cassandra for public safety.
It was unclear whether anyone was displaced by the fire.
Its cause was under investigation.