The Tenaja fire is burning in Murrieta since Wednesday and so far over 2,000 acres are charred with a 20 percent containment.
Mandatory evacuations have been lifted Friday morning.
Hundreds of residents of areas evacuated in the path of the fire burning in Murrieta may be heading home soon.
According to Cal Fire Riverside on Twitter, "Previous evacuation orders for affected areas are reduced to evacuation warnings. Residents in affected areas must remain vigilant and prepared. Clinton Keith Rd. remains closed. Please access La Cresta via Los Gatos Road."
The winds shifted Thursday afternoon and the fire threatened hundreds of homes and prompted new evacuations. Two homes had fire damage.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but lightning may have sparked the fire.
Morning briefing for firefighters at #Murrieta fire command post. Containment increased overnight to 20-percent— fire has burned 2,000 acres... slight fire damage to two homes. Today they'll hit the fire with water-dropping choppers. @CALFIRERRU pic.twitter.com/eyUK9P0Ptu
— Craig Fiegener (@CraigNews3LV) September 6, 2019#TenajaFire [UPDATE> - The fire is now 2,000 acres and 7% contained.
— CAL FIRE Riverside (@CALFIRERRU) September 5, 2019Many of the school districts in southwest Riverside County will be closed today because of the fire and the smoke it's producing.
Those districts include Murrieta Valley, Lake Elsinore, Romoland, Perris Elementary, Perris Union High and Menifee.
New evacuations were ordered for Montanya Place, Botanica Place, Belcara, Place, Lone Oak Way Thursday.
A care and reception center has been set up at Murrieta Mesa High School, 24801 Monroe Avenue. Small animals are being accepted at the care and reception center, located at Murrieta Mesa HS.
#TenajaFIRE New Evacuation orders issued for for Montanya Place, Botanica Place, Belcara, Place, Lone Oak Way @RivCoReady pic.twitter.com/nRR04rORGD
— CAL FIRE Riverside (@CALFIRERRU) September 5, 2019Planes were in the air above Murrieta Thursday morning trying to snuff out the flames on a ridge nearby that have forced hundreds from their homes.
Winds are posing a problem with the fire. Lightning may have sparked the fire.
All of the sudden we've got a lot of fixed-wing aircraft hammering away at the fire in #Murrietta. @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/FSQ06e2rRV
— Jon Baird (@KNXBaird) September 5, 2019You can see the smoke along the ridge from the fire burning in #Murrieta. 1400 acres charred. Only 7% contained. @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/62aIx3giFH
— Jon Baird (@KNXBaird) September 5, 2019You can see the smoke in the distance from the fire command post in #Murrieta. 400 homes have been evacuated. @KNX1070 pic.twitter.com/I2sdokEEqz
— Jon Baird (@KNXBaird) September 5, 2019More details to come.
