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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

KPCC Archive

Anza Fire: 3 firefighters injured, highway closed in Riverside County blaze

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A brush fire that erupted near Anza quickly grew to 500 acres and forced a full closure of a highway.

Three firefighters have been injured battling the blaze, Riverside County Fire's Jody Hageman told KPCC. The Red Cross has opened an evacuation center at Hamilton High School in Anza for people evacuated due to the fire.

In an update at 3:47 p.m., the Riverside County Fire Department, which is battling the blaze with help from Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service, said the blaze was ten percent contained. 353 firefighters are battling the Anza Fire.

The fire began when flames from a motor home fire along Highway 74 east of Highway 371 spread to nearby vegetation.

No structures were threatened. But the California Highway Patrol said all eastbound and westbound lanes on Highway 74 were closed east of the 371. There's no word on when they'll reopen.

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Firefighters got report of the fire at 11:44 a.m. Monday and responded with an air attack. Five helicopters and seven air tankers were working the fire from above in the early afternoon.

The fire was burning through thick vegetation and has the potential to expand rapidly to 1,000 acres or more, officials said.

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Map: Intersection of Highway 74 and 371, near Anza. Highway 74 is closed east of this location.

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This post has been updated.

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