Wildomar Rap: • Fire in La Cresta: #TenajaFire

[UPDATE] 1:00 p.m. - Clinton Keith Road is NOW OPEN. All Road Closures for the Tenaja Fire have now been lifted as of 1:00 pm on 9/7/2019.

Further, intermittent closures are possible in the area of the Tenaja Fire as firefighters continue working toward full containment of the fire. Please drive safely in this area as fire personnel continue to work in the area.

[UPDATE] 9/6/2019 @ 9 p.m. - CHP has concluded escorting vehicles up and down Clinton Keith Road. Clinton Keith Road will remain closed for the duration of the evening. Access to La Cresta through De Luz is open.

[UPDATE] 9/6/2019 @ 8:13 p.m. - ALL evacuation warnings have been lifted. CHP has closed Clinton Keith Road and will not have escorts tonight. Access to La Cresta through De Luz remains open.

[UPDATE] 9/6/2019 @ 6:03 p.m. - The fire is 2,000 acres and 25% contained. Clinton Keith remains closed. However, CHP is doing escorts in both directions as fire behavior and equipment movement allows. All previous evacuation warnings remain in place. The next update will follow tomorrow morning's briefing unless significant changes occur.

[UPDATE] 9/6/2019 @1:30 p.m. Evacuation Warnings remain in place. Clinton Keith Road is CLOSED to all traffic. Access to and from La Cresta can be made via Deluz (Los Gatos Rd, Via Volcano).

[UPDATE] 9/6/2019 @ 6:12 a.m. - The fire remains 2000 acres and is now 20% contained. Clinton Keith is still closed. Los Gatos, Via Volcano and Tenaja Road are open. The next update will be later this morning.

[UPDATE] 9/5/19 @ 5:30 p.m. - Due to better mapping the fire acreage has changed to 1,974 acres and 10% contained.

[UPDATE] 9/5/19 @ 3:00 p.m. - CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire has entered into Unified Command with Murrieta Fire Protection District.

[UPDATE] 9/5/19 @ 2:56 p.m. - The fire is now 2,000 acres and 7% contained.

[UPDATE]  09/05/2019 6:20 A.M.: The fire is now 1400 acres and is now 7% contained. All mandatory evacuation orders remain in place. Firefighters remain on scene in strength as they work to fully contain and control the fire. Updates will be posted as information becomes available.

[UPDATE]  9/4/19 @ 10:00 pm - Mandatory evacuations are now being issued to residents in Copper Canyon South of Calle del Oso Oro between Clinton Keith and Murrieta Creek.

[UPDATE]  9/4/19 @ 9:40 pm - For evacuation area information please visit: https://countyofriverside.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0b92d93e12d34bf29b8c0d5e28b95815

[UPDATE]  9/4/19 @8:50 pm - The fire is currently 994 acres.

Fire in the La Cresta area. The air quality is bad and ash has been falling in Wildomar. It's well advised to stay off the roads if you can, especially near Clinton Keith on the west side of the freeway.

As seen from Wildomar city hall.
Photo courtesy Kimberly Davidson

Type of Incident: Wildland Fire

Incident Address: Near the intersection of Tenaja Road and Clinton Keith Road Incident Number: CA-RRU-113828

Community: La Cresta Date Reported: 9/4/2019

Time Reported: 3:56 PM

Firefighters: 130 Helicopters: 1 Utilities: No
Law Enforcement: No Engine Companies: 19 Air Tankers: 1
Air Attack: Yes Fire Crews: 4
EMD: Yes Overhead Personnel: 3 Water Tenders: 1
American Red Cross: No Fire Investigator: No Bulldozers: 2
Public Information Officer: No Displaced Persons: No

Specialized Equipment: Helitender

Riverside County Fire Department Link

Supervisor Jeffries posted about the fire on Facebook.

As seen from the north end of Windsong Valley.

As seen from the north end of Windsong Valley. Close up.

Photo sent in by Grace Morabito.

I will add more information as it comes in.

[UPDATE] 9/4/19 @ 5:08 pm - Clinton Keith Road is closed south of Avenida La Cresta.

CAL FIRE/Riverside County Firefighters responded to reports of fire near the intersection of Tenaja Road and Clinton Keith Road. The fire is currently 25 acres burning in heavy fuels with a rapid rate of spread.

Photo Courtesy Ben Benoit

Tustin Police Officers Association

[UPDATE] 9/4/19 @ 5:15 pm - There is an evacuation order for the Santa Rosa Plateau Visitor Center located at 39400 Clinton Keith Road.

Added at 5:31pm

Photo sent in by Chad Costanzo

Photo by Brittany Cooley from Oceanside

Photo by Eve Gaal

Near Donald Graham Elementary.
Photo by Kevin Jon Sax.

Photo by NBC

[UPDATE] 9/4/19 @ 6 pm - The fire is currently 50 acres and 0% contained. There is a mandatory evacuation order for all residences along The Trail Circle, in La Cresta.

Photo by NBC

Added at 6:15pm

Photo by NBC

[UPDATE] 9/4/19 @ 6:15 pm - The fire is currently 150 acres and 0% contained.

Photo by NBC

[UPDATE] 9/4/19 @ 6:30 pm - Tenaja Road is also closed in both directions all the way up.

Photo sent in by Chad Costanzo

8:15 pm

Latest update from Calfire (Wildomar Chief John Crater), 250 acres burned, 5% contained. Plans to stop the fire at Clinton Keith up on the hill. Clinton Keith road is closed to thru traffic at Fire Station 75 (just above Bear Creek). No Fire impacts to Wildomar. The City of Murrieta has opened their EOC and directed evacuees from the plateau to Murrieta Mesa High School. Wildomar has offered assistance to Murrieta and Calfire but it is not currently needed.