Murrieta fire doesn’t grow overnight, but containment doubles to 20%

Murrieta fire doesn’t grow overnight, but containment doubles to 20%

by Jim Radcliffe

Firefighters made progress on the Tenaja fire overnight, as containment on the Murrieta-area blaze has doubled to 20% containment and remained at having damaged 2,000 acres, officials said Friday morning, Sept. 6.

At 9:45 p.m. Thursday, the fire’s containment was at 10 percent.

The road closures of Los Gatos and Tenaja roads and Via Volcano have been lifted.

Officials had hoped the winds would die down overnight, although they could kick up again Friday morning.

So far, the Tenaja has only caused minor damage to two structures.

But the fire has lead to school districts in southwest Riverside County deciding against holding school on Friday, including: Murrieta Valley, Lake Elsinore, Romoland, Perris Elementary, Perris Union High and Menifee.

Further, the fire, first reported at 3:56 p.m. Wednesday, has led numerous evacuations that hadn’t been lifted by Friday morning.

The latest evacuation orders, issued midday Thursday for areas of Murrieta, included Montanya Place, Bonita Place, Belcara Place and Lone Oak Way.

Evacuation orders had already been issued for Murrieta residents in Copper Canyon, south of Calle del Oso Oro between Clinton Keith Road and Murrieta Creek Drive.

Also, there were mandatory evacuations for homes on The Trails Circle in La Cresta. The Santa Rosa Plateau Visitor Center at 39400 Clinton Keith Road was also ordered evacuated; the visitor center is part of the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve in the Riverside County regional park system.

This is a developing story. Please check back later for updates.

All credit goes to Jim Radcliffe
Originally published on https://www.dailynews.com