As a brushfire rages in Jurupa Valley, evacuation orders have been issued.
According to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, the fire, which is being referred to as the Soto Fire, was discovered in the 4600 block of Soto Avenue close to Sedona Drive shortly after 7:45 p.m.
According to Cal Fire, the fire has been mapped at 25 acres. Since certain structures were under danger from the fires, evacuation orders were issued at approximately 8:45 p.m.
Residents of the region that encompasses Camino Real from Laurel Ridge Drive south to Sundance Drive were being evacuated by Riverside County officers. For those affected, Patriot High School, located at 4355 Camino Real, was designated as a care and reception center.
The cause of the fire is unknown.
Red flag warnings
Due to the presence of another Santa Ana wind flow, a large portion of Southern California is currently on high alert for possible fire hazard. Because of the conditions, the National Weather Service issued Red Flag warnings for Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
Conditions are extremely similar to when the Franklin Fire started in the Malibu Canyon, but the winds are not as fierce as they were this time last week. Eight days after it started on Tuesday, December 10, the fire has destroyed over 20 buildings and burned over 4,000 acres.
The National Weather Service predicted that Riverside County would have winds of up to 15 mph, with the highest gusts perhaps reaching 30 mph.
Busy day for firefighters
This is the second notable incident to occur in Jurupa Valley on Tuesday. Firefighters reported a small brushfire near Canal Street and 29th Street, just north of SR-60, at approximately 3:20 p.m.
By 3:45 p.m., they had managed to halt the forward rate of spread and had quickly put out the fire. There were no reported injuries or damaged structures.
But before firefighters arrived, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies arrested a guy they said was loitering close to the fire’s original origin.
On suspicion of arson, he was placed under arrest. The suspect was not immediately identified by deputies.
The story is still evolving. For more information, check back.
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