Firefighters near Temecula are still working tonight to fully contain a massive wildfire. That blaze, being called the Pleasure Fire, started yesterday afternoon in southern Riverside County and today, windy weather made this a tough fight for fire crews.
This evening, that fire near Temecula is still burning, but it is 90 percent contained and no homes have been destroyed so far. But as this fire kicked up big time yesterday, the flames came dangerously close to several houses.
As water dropping helicopters circled over these charred hills, hand crews moved in to snuff out any hotspots. Crews say 90 percent of the blaze is surrounded but with dry windy weather firefighters aren't out of the woods.
“Our concern is to hold it and not let it get outside of it's containment.”
And on Sunday, this massive fire was tough to try and contain. Through thick smoke you could see flames moving quickly across these rocky hillsides near the Lake Riverside Estate area 2000 acres were charred. But crews eventually saved more than 400 homes in the fire's path.
“It came up here around the house.”
Steve and Wanda Crawford say the blaze encircled their single story house Sunday night. In the end, they lost 5 cars and a trailer in their front yard, but they say those things can be replaced.
“We're fine.”
The fire apparently started in dry brush and fire crews say hot dry Santa Ana winds helped this fire grow. The blaze destroyed a total of 9 vehicles and 2 mobile homes and firefighters say with weather conditions the way they are, they're lucky this blaze didn't do more damage.
There are no injuries to report with this fire and should be fully contained by later tonight.